Sonatine for Flute and Piano

The Sonatine for Flute and Piano is an early work by the 20th-century French composer Henri Dutilleux, composed and published in 1943.[1] It lasts about 9 minutes and consists of three movements, played without break.

Overview

The Sonatine for Flute and Piano is one of a series of four test pieces for the Paris Conservatoire that Dutilleux wrote between 1942 and 1951. They were commissioned by then-director Claude Delvincourt. These pieces were intended both to test the technique of the students and provide them with new scores.[2]

Dutilleux was notoriously critical of his early works, including the Sonatine. He once stated that he had never been completely happy that it was played so often[3] but he never withdrew it.

... the flute piece is the Sonatine for Flute and Piano, which has been recorded many times abroad, although I have never wanted it to be recorded in France because it doesn’t yet sound really like my music. But I haven’t put any embargo on that.[2][4]

The work has become a standard of the flute repertoire[2] and has been performed many times by flautists such as Sharon Bezaly and Emmanuel Pahud. As of 2014, it is Dutilleux's most often recorded work.[5]

Music

The sonatine is structured in 3 sections played without a break.[6]

The first section features a mysterious theme in 7/8 contrasting with jagged piano figures. It concludes with a cadenza that provides a transition to the lyrical second section. The last section features rapid exchanges between the flute and the piano before another short but difficult cadenza recalls the themes heard before. A frenzied accelerando played by both instruments concludes the piece.[6]

Structure

  1. Allegretto
  2. Andante
  3. Animé

References

  1. ↑ "Sonatina for flute & piano". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 https://betweentheledgerlines.wordpress.com/2013/05/31/remembering-henri-dutilleux-1916-2013/
  3. ↑ http://catalogue.ircam.fr/hotes/snm/ITPR07MARI.html
  4. ↑ Interview with author Claude Glayman (1977)
  5. ↑ http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Henri-Dutilleux/Composer/3305-1
  6. 1 2 http://www.eclassical.com/shop/17115/art10/4940010-9eda5e-809730512629.pdf
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