somptueux impressionnisme du piano de Poulenc par lui-même... très différent de ses interprètes...tellement plus de relief malgré l'ancienneté de l'enregistrement !
Poulenc plays his own works with a beautifully classical restraint. Rubato is handled with discretion and a deep espressivity. This is nuance very different from the German late romantic style, and more modern pianists would do well to listen!
I was looking for this! So good to hear him playing the Mouvements Perpetuels, which were my introduction to Poulenc when I was about 13 & could barely play #1. I came here because someone was criticizing a pianist for using a little rubato in Ravel; I thought of a remark of Poulenc's (I am quoting from memory) "Hate rubato. No rubato. But pedal, yes lots of pedal. Playing piano without pedal is like making sauce without butter". Well, Poulenc would have his little joke. He must have been composing the Mouvements Perpetuels at the time I think. Lots of pedal here. But subtle rubato too, oh yes, even in the Mouvements Perpetuels! I love it!
Thank you for this very illuminating upload, Donald. My interest in Poulenc stretches back some years, and gradually am getting a feel for him. A most interesting man, living through very interesting times. France had such a colourful outward personality then (very French!) despite the setbacks of war, and to me Poulenc seems to straddle the order of privilege and old school values, along with breaking fresh ground in musical expression, which put him in good company with Ravel and other French composers who had made their mark slightly before him. I can't get enough of him!
I love his heart-on-sleeve simplicity and his cheekiness. There is a choral piece of his iirc that ends on a terrible chromatic chord: B#, Fb, Abb ... I forget exactly what. Of course it's a simple C major chord! When his Gloria was criticized as irreverent he said, "It's most reverent. I was thinking of the gargoyles above Notre Dame, sticking out their tongues...."
This is wonderful music -- thank you so much for posting! I'm learning the flute sonata and really wanted to get some idea how Poulenc sounded playing his own music. Feel very lucky to have found this.
![Francis Poulenc - Nocturnes [With score]](/img/n.gif)
somptueux impressionnisme du piano de Poulenc par lui-même... très différent de ses interprètes...tellement plus de relief malgré l'ancienneté de l'enregistrement !
Poulenc plays his own works with a beautifully classical restraint. Rubato is handled with discretion and a deep espressivity. This is nuance very different from the German late romantic style, and more modern pianists would do well to listen!
A joyous 2024 in advance, Donald. 😃
I was looking for this! So good to hear him playing the Mouvements Perpetuels, which were my introduction to Poulenc when I was about 13 & could barely play #1. I came here because someone was criticizing a pianist for using a little rubato in Ravel; I thought of a remark of Poulenc's (I am quoting from memory) "Hate rubato. No rubato. But pedal, yes lots of pedal. Playing piano without pedal is like making sauce without butter".
Well, Poulenc would have his little joke. He must have been composing the Mouvements Perpetuels at the time I think. Lots of pedal here. But subtle rubato too, oh yes, even in the Mouvements Perpetuels! I love it!
The beautiful legato places the percussive moments in a larger context.
Such delicacy, such colour! Espressivity without Indulgence.
It is very interesting to hear Poulenc played by himslf ! Thank you for uploading these records.
wondrous!
Such a beautiful sensibility and warm touch
Thank you for the upload. Brilliant composer and pianist.
Thank you for this very illuminating upload, Donald. My interest in Poulenc stretches back some years, and gradually am getting a feel for him. A most interesting man, living through very interesting times. France had such a colourful outward personality then (very French!) despite the setbacks of war, and to me Poulenc seems to straddle the order of privilege and old school values, along with breaking fresh ground in musical expression, which put him in good company with Ravel and other French composers who had made their mark slightly before him. I can't get enough of him!
I love his heart-on-sleeve simplicity and his cheekiness. There is a choral piece of his iirc that ends on a terrible chromatic chord: B#, Fb, Abb ... I forget exactly what. Of course it's a simple C major chord! When his Gloria was criticized as irreverent he said, "It's most reverent. I was thinking of the gargoyles above Notre Dame, sticking out their tongues...."
This is wonderful music -- thank you so much for posting! I'm learning the flute sonata and really wanted to get some idea how Poulenc sounded playing his own music. Feel very lucky to have found this.
so charming! exquisite piano playing, he trained that dog well ;)
....Very elegant !
Thank you so much!... From a "Poulenkian"... -:)
Thank you for this great upload.
Amazing! Loved it!
thank you for uploading
Interesting to listen to Poulenc himself playing his compositions
Quelle treasure.
Note the reference to Stravinsky
Sacre de Printempts
The Rite of Spring
In there!
Toujours ausi gai et bon pour le moral
Wonderful 😍 Thank You soooo much!
Glad you like it!
génie...
Herrliche Werke und Interpretation. Herr Poulenc starb leider zu früh. Auf BAM findet man ein paar Stücke die der Meister selber spielt.
Is the fox terrier playing?
Ha Ha-The keys are depressed so it's anybody's guess!