Nov 17, 2024: Chamber Delights

by Thomas Nickell

Aubade

Concerto Chorégraphique FP 51a for Piano and 18 Instruments Francis Poulenc (1899–1963) 

Francis Poulenc’s 1929 Aubade is one of the most unique works in the piano concerto repertoire for a number of reasons. As a chamber concerto, the work employs an instrumental force considerably smaller than most virtuoso concerti, made stranger by the lack of violins. The Aubade came about as the score for a ballet choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska, sister of Vaslav who gained notoriety for his controversial choreography for Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Poulenc arranged the ballet’s story himself, using the goddess Diana as inspiration. The eight movements of the concerto depict a variety of scenes where Diana continuously loses touch with reality, culminating in the seventh movement where a wild, desperate dance leaves her inconsolable by her companions, and she resolves to go off to hunt in the forest alone. 

Serenade for Wind Instruments in D Minor. Op. 44 

A. Dvorˇák (1841–1904) 

Dvorˇák’s Serenade for Wind instruments, composed in 1878, has become an often programmed work due to its versatility and immediate accessibility, representing Dvorˇák’s great talent for melody. The composition is reminiscent of Mozart’s wind serenades, which are likewise popular pieces Dvorˇák admired, employing a structure that allows for diverse themes and characters. In each of the four movements, Dvorˇák manages to evoke feelings of grandeur, Czech village wind bands, and gleeful dances.