Figures Sonores was composed in 1984 at the request of the World Music Contest Kerkrade. It was used as test piece in the 'concert division' at the 1985 contest. The board of the WMC asked Badings to write a new type of test piece, stressing the musical contents and its delivery rather than technical difficulties. Moreover the composition was not to exceed a duration of ten minutes. The latter really disturbed the composer as he felt he could not really develop completely his musical ideas. The three parts are played without any interruption. The lyrical, pathetical first part is followed by a solemn middle part in which the percussion has a preponderant role, and a virtuoso and whimsical finale concludes the work. According to the commission the musical expression dominates in all solo passages, that occur in all instrumental groups.
