Description
Poulenc Un Joueur de Flute Berce Les Ruines for Solo Flute
Poulenc Un Joueur de Flute Berce Les Ruines for Solo Flute
Publisher-Chester Music
About
Although Poulenc wrote many compositions for woodwind instruments, it was previously believed that he had not written any music specifically for the flute without accompaniment. However, a piece titled ‘Un Joueur de Flute Berce les Ruines’ (A flute player lullabies the ruins) was discovered. Limited information is available about this piece since the discovery of the manuscript dated 1942.
The composition follows a modal and melancholic style. Despite its simplicity, it possesses undeniable beauty and serves as an important addition to the repertoire of solo flute music.
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) was a French composer and pianist who made significant contributions to French music. Poulenc wrote an array of chamber music, solo piano works, operas, orchestral music, and ballet amongst other works.
In 1920, the critic Henri Collet grouped Poulenc together with five other young French composers, who collectively came to be known as “Les Six.” This group included Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud, Georges Auric, Germaine Tailleferre, and Louis Durey. Moreover, they all shared a similar reaction to the emotionalism of 19th-century Romantic music and the Impressionism of Claude Debussy. However, it is important to note that their unity was rooted in their friendship rather than shared aesthetic ideals.
Poulenc received instruction from composer and teacher Charles Koechlin between 1921 and 1924.  During this time, notable developments took place. Firstly, his ballet Les Biches was produced by Serge Diaghilev in 1924. Additionally, Poulenc composed the song cycles Poèmes de Ronsard and Chansons Gaillardes in the same year, paving the way for his prolific output in subsequent years, which comprised over 100 songs.
Poulenc’s woodwind compositions highlight his remarkable skill in writing for specific instruments within the family. In his Flute, Oboe and Clarinet Sonatas, he demonstrates a deep understanding of the unique qualities and expressive capabilities of each instrument. The Flute Sonata, with its lyrical melodies and agile passages, showcases the flute’s soaring and fluid nature, while the Clarinet Sonata explores the rich and expressive range of the clarinet, combining virtuosity with moments of tender introspection.
If you have any queries, please call us on 020 7388 8438 (UK) or +44 (0)20 7388 8438 (International)
Product Delivery
- We dispatch all sheet music within the UK via Royal Mail unless otherwise requested.
- We will endeavour to dispatch your order by return and availability of stock if received before 2.30 pm
- Stocked items may not always be immediately available. Click here to find out more.
- We use a secure courier service for overseas deliveries outside of the United Kingdom. Delivery charges will vary depending on the location and weight of the goods.
