Flute Sonata (Poulenc)
Encyclopedia
The Flute Sonata by Francis Poulenc
, for flute
and piano
, was written in 1957. It is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
, an American patron of chamber music. Poulenc composed it for the flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal
, and he and Rampal gave the première in June 1957 at the Strasbourg Music Festival
. It is now one of Poulenc's best known works and is a prominent feature in 20th century flute repertoire.
for a long time, which can be dated back to the year 1952 in a letter to the baritone Pierre Bernac
. Throughout the next few years, Poulenc had intended to resume the work as stated in his letters to his publisher in 1953, 1955 and 1956.
However, it is unknown whether this planned sonata is directly related to the published sonata. In April 1956, Harold Spivacke, a spokeperson for the Coolidge Foundation at the Library of Congress
, wrote a letter to Poulenc offering a commission for a piece of chamber music
for a festival going to take place in October 1956. Poulenc declined the commission soon as he was just finishing the orchestration of his new opera and the première in Milan
was too close. Spivacke again offered the commission in May, and this time Poulenc responded in August when he noted that the opera was in order and he could write something for him. He suggested the Sonata for Flute and Piano, provided that he could reserve the première for the Strasbourg Festival in June 1957.
Jean-Pierre Rampal learned about the sonata in a phone call from Poulenc. The occasion was marked in his autobiography:
Poulenc wrote the piece in Cannes
between December 1956 and March 1957, and the completed manuscript was mailed to the Library of Congress on 7 June 1957. On 17 June 1957, an unofficial première was given at the Strasbourg Festival by the composer and Rampal - with only one audience member, Arthur Rubinstein
, who requested to hear it one day before the official première as he was going to leave before it.
On 16 January 1958, Poulenc played the work with Gareth Morris
in a broadcast on BBC
. The American première took place in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on 14 February 1958. It was reported to be a rousing success.
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was a French composer and a member of the French group Les six. He composed solo piano music, chamber music, oratorio, choral music, opera, ballet music, and orchestral music...
, for flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, was written in 1957. It is dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge aka Liz Coolidge , born Elizabeth Penn Sprague, was an American pianist and patron of music, especially of chamber music....
, an American patron of chamber music. Poulenc composed it for the flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Rampal
Jean-Pierre Louis Rampal was a French flautist. He has been personally "credited with returning to the flute the popularity as a solo classical instrument it had not held since the 18th century."-Early years:...
, and he and Rampal gave the première in June 1957 at the Strasbourg Music Festival
Strasbourg Music Festival
The Strasbourg Music Festival is a prominent annual two-week festival of classical music...
. It is now one of Poulenc's best known works and is a prominent feature in 20th century flute repertoire.
History
Sources indicate that Poulenc had had the idea to compose a flute sonataFlute sonata
A flute sonata is a sonata usually for flute and piano, though occasionally other accompanying instruments may be used. Flute sonatas in the Baroque period were very often accompanied in the form of basso continuo.-List of Flute Sonatas:*George Antheil...
for a long time, which can be dated back to the year 1952 in a letter to the baritone Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac
Pierre Bernac was a French baritone.Born Pierre Bertin in Paris on January 12, 1899, he studied with Reinhold von Wahrlich in Salzburg. he came to music relatively late and gave his first recital in 1921....
. Throughout the next few years, Poulenc had intended to resume the work as stated in his letters to his publisher in 1953, 1955 and 1956.
However, it is unknown whether this planned sonata is directly related to the published sonata. In April 1956, Harold Spivacke, a spokeperson for the Coolidge Foundation at the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, wrote a letter to Poulenc offering a commission for a piece of chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
for a festival going to take place in October 1956. Poulenc declined the commission soon as he was just finishing the orchestration of his new opera and the première in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
was too close. Spivacke again offered the commission in May, and this time Poulenc responded in August when he noted that the opera was in order and he could write something for him. He suggested the Sonata for Flute and Piano, provided that he could reserve the première for the Strasbourg Festival in June 1957.
Jean-Pierre Rampal learned about the sonata in a phone call from Poulenc. The occasion was marked in his autobiography:
"Jean-Pierre," said Poulenc: "you know you've always wanted me to write a sonata for flute and piano? Well, I'm going to,' he said. 'And the best thing is that the Americans will pay for it! I've been commissioned by the Coolidge Foundation to write a chamber piece in memory of Elizabeth Coolidge. I never knew her, so I think the piece is yours."
Poulenc wrote the piece in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
between December 1956 and March 1957, and the completed manuscript was mailed to the Library of Congress on 7 June 1957. On 17 June 1957, an unofficial première was given at the Strasbourg Festival by the composer and Rampal - with only one audience member, Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein
Arthur Rubinstein KBE was a Polish-American pianist. He received international acclaim for his performances of the music of a variety of composers...
, who requested to hear it one day before the official première as he was going to leave before it.
On 16 January 1958, Poulenc played the work with Gareth Morris
Gareth Morris
Gareth Charles Walter Morris was a British flautist. He was the principal flautist of a number of London orchestras including the Boyd Neel Orchestra before joining the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was the principal flautist of this orchestra for 24 years and Professor of the Flute at the Royal...
in a broadcast on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The American première took place in the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress on 14 February 1958. It was reported to be a rousing success.
Music
The sonata is in three movements:- Allegretto malincolico
- Cantilena: Assez lent
- Presto giocoso