Symphony No. 1 (Dutilleux)
Encyclopedia
Symphony no. 1 by Henri Dutilleux
(born 1916) was written in 1951, the first of his two symphonies
It is a composition from the composer's relatively early period, Dutilleux's first purely orchestral composition. It is written in a very classical form (four movements), but its language is rather free. It is orchestrated for 85 instrumentalists. The premiere took place at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
on the 7th June, 1951, with Roger Désormière
conducting the Orchestre National de France
.
The symphony is written in four movements, shown below, and lasts approximately half an hour.
This symphony demonstrates Dutilleux's attachment to the use of variation form, which is found in the outer two movements. The use of a passacaglia
as a symphonic first movement is extremely rare. It consists of 35 repetitions of a four-bar bass motif, shown in the opening four bars by the double basses. The second movement was defined by Dutilleux as an 'original and energetic scherzo', and very 'virtuosic and demonstrative'. In the third movement, he develops a process that he uses more extensively in several later compositions: the main theme is not presented immediately at the beginning, but hidden in a slow evolution of themes (reverse variation). The finale starts with a majestic percussion display, before returning to a calmer atmosphere.
The symphony was a big step for Dutilleux's career, as it demonstrated his mastery of orchestration.
Henri Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux is one of the most important French composers of the second half of the 20th century, producing work in the tradition of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Albert Roussel, but in a style distinctly his own...
(born 1916) was written in 1951, the first of his two symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
It is a composition from the composer's relatively early period, Dutilleux's first purely orchestral composition. It is written in a very classical form (four movements), but its language is rather free. It is orchestrated for 85 instrumentalists. The premiere took place at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
on the 7th June, 1951, with Roger Désormière
Roger Désormière
Roger Désormière was a French conductor.Désormière was born in Vichy in 1898. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire, where his professors included Philippe Gaubert , Xavier Leroux and Charles Koechlin , and Vincent d'Indy...
conducting the Orchestre National de France
Orchestre National de France
The Orchestre national de France is a symphony orchestra run by Radio France. It has also been known as the Orchestre national de la Radiodiffusion française and Orchestre national de l'Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française .Since 1944, the orchestra has been based in the Théâtre...
.
The symphony is written in four movements, shown below, and lasts approximately half an hour.
- Passacaglia
- Scherzo molto vivace
- Intermezzo
- Finale con variazioni
This symphony demonstrates Dutilleux's attachment to the use of variation form, which is found in the outer two movements. The use of a passacaglia
Passacaglia
The passacaglia is a musical form that originated in early seventeenth-century Spain and is still used by contemporary composers. It is usually of a serious character and is often, but not always, based on a bass-ostinato and written in triple metre....
as a symphonic first movement is extremely rare. It consists of 35 repetitions of a four-bar bass motif, shown in the opening four bars by the double basses. The second movement was defined by Dutilleux as an 'original and energetic scherzo', and very 'virtuosic and demonstrative'. In the third movement, he develops a process that he uses more extensively in several later compositions: the main theme is not presented immediately at the beginning, but hidden in a slow evolution of themes (reverse variation). The finale starts with a majestic percussion display, before returning to a calmer atmosphere.
The symphony was a big step for Dutilleux's career, as it demonstrated his mastery of orchestration.