Benoit Cancoin: En bateau for solo double bass

About the Composition

En bateau (“On a Boat”) is a lyrical and evocative work that captures the gentle rhythm and fluid motion of life at sea. Composed after a sailing trip, it reflects the composer’s impressions of gliding downwind, that serene, suspended moment when the wind and water move in perfect harmony.

The music unfolds with a natural sense of narrative, as if charting a voyage from quiet anticipation to the exhilaration of open water. Flowing melodic lines and subtle dynamic shifts evoke the play of light on waves, while the pacing mirrors the changing moods of the journey. Both expressive and technically rewarding, this solo invites the performer to inhabit the ebb and flow of its story, balancing freedom with precision, calm with motion.

Find a recording of this piece, arranged for double bass and singer, here.

About the Composer

Benoit Cancoin is a double bassist and composer whose work spans a wide range of musical styles, from classical to experimental music and jazz. Drawing on his extensive experience as both performer and creator, he explores the expressive and sonic possibilities of the double bass through a distinctive, personal voice. Throughout his career, Cancoin has composed a diverse body of music that he now seeks to share more widely with performers and audiences alike.