24-25 Program Book - Flipbook - Page 22
Concerto pour deux pianos [Concerto for Two Pianos
and Orchestra] in D minor, FP 61 (1932)
FRANCIS JEAN MARCEL POULENC
(January 7, 1899-January 30, 1963)
Francis Poulenc was a French composer and pianist.
His compositions include songs, solo piano works,
chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and
orchestral concert music. Born into a wealthy family,
Poulenc credited his father’s side for his deep Catholic
faith and his mother’s side for his artistic motivations.
As a result, his music is often described as having an
interesting mix of deep expression and extreme wit.
Poulenc was also an accomplished pianist, touring
and recording frequently throughout his career.
Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos was composed in
the summer of 1932.
The first movement explodes with fast figures in the solo parts and punctuating
chords in the orchestra. Some have suggested that Poulenc was influenced by
a Balinese gamelan he heard in 1931, and one can hear the layering of rhythmic
activity that suggests this influence. The energy is relentless until there is an abrupt
change of mood to a softer, more mysterious section led by the soloists. The next
section also arrives abruptly and is a marked change in mood and character, very
reminiscent of Ravel’s piano concerto in G. Another abrupt change brings a freer
section that is even more ambiguous in harmony and texture.
The second movement begins with a simple melody reminiscent of a Mozart slow
movement. The peaceful mood is colored only occasionally with some interesting
dissonances. A middle section perks things up a bit with some dramatic moments
that build to several climactic moments but eventually return to the opening simple
melody. After a momentary diversion to some café music, as if to remind the listener
not to take things too seriously, the movement ends gently.
The third movement is another tour-de-force for the soloists with cascading
flourishes and many flashy virtuosic passages. A flowing section provides some
relief, but before long the flourishes and flashy passages return. There are numerous
musical interjections from various sections of the orchestra. Eventually, all of the
various musical materials from the soloists and orchestra come together for an
entertaining and surprising ending.
For Poulenc, the most important musical element was melody; he felt this concerto
was an important step in his growth as a composer. He wrote that the music of Mozart,
Liszt, and Ravel were strong influences on the work. The piece was commissioned
and dedicated to the Princess Edmond de Polignac, an American-born arts patron
who hosted a popular musical avant-garde Paris salon. The premiere was given on
September 5, 1932, at the International Society for Contemporary Music in Venice.
Poulenc and his friend Jacques Février were soloists with the La Scala Orchestra.
The piece received immediate acclaim for its accessibility and entertaining style.
22 CLASSICAL SERIES STAR WARS AND THE PLANETS
