Classical Music | Clarinet Music

Francis Poulenc

Sonata for Clarinet and Piano Play Play

Samuel Brandão Marques	Clarinet
Garret Ross	Piano

Recorded on 03/18/2015, uploaded on 07/30/2015

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in B-flat, FP 184   Francis Poulenc

I.    Allegro tristamente
II.    Romanza
III.   Allegro con fuoco

Francis Poulenc, French composer and pianist, was a member of a group of young French composers called Les Six, so was able to draw his musical ideas from various sources. However, his music was deeply connected to and affected by his personal life. A great example is this sonata,dating from 1962 and one of the last pieces he completed. It is dedicated to the memory of Swiss composer Arthur Honegger, also a member of Les Six.

The sonata is in three movements, all of them being somewhat embedded with a grieving and memorial character, while at the same time showing signs of hope and optimism. In fact, the first movement has the marking Allegro Tristamente, which is itself paradoxical, as Allegro refers to a fast-paced tempo characterized by a lively and joyful nature, while Tristamente means “sadly”. The result is one in which the music is always in motion, but proceeds with a sense of grieving. The severe opening of the movement leads to more lyrical material. Poulenc shifts drastically at the center of the movement, introducing a slower and serene section, before returning with the opening theme. As the movement ends quietly, we feel a lingering memory, filled with melancholy.

The second movement is marked Romanza (“Romance”), suggesting music of a very expressive character. An introductory flourish from the clarinet leads to the movement’s climbing main theme, which is gentle and melancholic. The opening swirls from the clarinet return at the end, leading to a quiet and peaceful close. The final movement, Allegro con fuoco, shows an abundance of energy, with its humorous tune. There are several lyric episodes along the way, but the energy of the opening is always returning. Towards the end, we hear the opening theme again, leading to an abrupt conclusion. Samuel Brandão Marques (wikipedia.org)