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November 24, 2024
The Gaggle Music Club

Today's selection for The Gaggle Music Club is Francis Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, commissioned by Princess Edmond de Polignac, and first performed in Venice on Sept. 5, 1932, with Poulenc and Jacques Février as the piano soloists.

The concerto draws inspiration from various styles, reflecting Poulenc’s eclectic approach:

One source was Mozart. Direct homages to Mozart’s piano concertos are clearly discernible, particularly in the lyrical second movement.

Another source was jazz: Poulenc was influenced by the jazz trends of the 1920s and 1930s. This is evident in the syncopations and rhythmic drive of the outer movements.

Another source was Balinese Gamelan--a traditional ensemble music form from Bali, Indonesia, characterized by vibrant and dynamic rhythms, and layered melodies. Poulenc had heard gamelan music at the 1931 Paris Colonial Exposition, and its influence on the piece is particularly audible in the percussive textures of the first movement.

Another source was obviously French popular music, with its characteristic wit and light-heartedness.

The concerto is in three movements:

Allegro ma non troppo: A lively and rhythmically vibrant opening, blending classical formality with modern energy.

Larghetto: A slow and lyrical second movement, often compared to the graceful and emotional style of Mozart.

Finale: Allegro molto: A spirited and humorous conclusion, filled with playful exchanges between the two pianos and the orchestra.

The Concerto for Two Pianos has become one of Poulenc’s most performed works and remains a staple of the piano duo repertoire. Pianists get to show off their virtuosity, we get to appreciate Poulenc’s ability to synthesize diverse influences into a charming and entertaining whole.

This performance dates from April 8, 2023, and features the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, conducted by Alain Altinoglu. The pianists are Lucas and Arthur Jussen.

00:20:58
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This week's selection of The Gaggle Music Club is Ottorino Respighi’s "Ancient Airs and Dances." The composition consists of a set of three orchestral suites composed between 1917 and 1932, based on lute pieces from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Ottorino Respighi (1879–1936) was an Italian composer, musicologist, conductor and orchestrator. He studied composition in Bologna and later trained in orchestration under Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in Russia. The Russian master-orchestrator strongly influenced Respighi's approach to tone color. Respighi went on to become one of the most important figures in Italian music in the early 20th century. A significant part of Respighi’s output was devoted to reviving and reinterpreting early music. He created orchestral versions of lute pieces, Gregorian chant and harpsichord works. Unlike his contemporaries in Italy, he had little time for atonality and serialism.

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(except Canada Aug 1)

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