SEXTET FOR PIANO AND WINDS Op. 100 by FRANCIS POULENC (France, 1899 – 1963)

[#299] April 14, 2025 1932/39 | Grade 6 | 15’ – 20’ | Chamber Winds

Sextet for Piano and Winds Op. 100 by French composer Francis Poulenc is our Composition of the Week.

This chamber music piece was composed between 1932 and 1939 and is one of Poulenc's most celebrated works for winds and piano.

The sextet is structured in three movements:

1. Allegro vivace – Playful and energetic, filled with Poulenc's characteristic wit and charm.

2. Divertissement (Andantino) – A lyrical, elegant, and sometimes melancholic middle movement.

3. Finale (Prestissimo) – A fast, exciting conclusion with lively and rhythmic interplay between the instruments.

The Sextet embodies Poulenc’s signature style—mixing neoclassicism with French elegance, humor, and lyricism. It features jazzy harmonies, unexpected modulations, and a balance between lightheartedness and emotional depth.

The final version of 1939 is the one that is widely performed today. It has a duration of about 18 minutes.

Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc was born on January 7, 1899, in Paris, France. He came from a well-off family; his father was a successful businessman in the pharmaceutical industry, while his mother was an amateur pianist who introduced him to music. Poulenc began playing the piano at an early age and was largely self-taught, though he later studied with the Spanish pianist Ricardo Viñes, who was a friend of Debussy and Ravel.

During his early years, Poulenc was influenced by Erik Satie and Igor Stravinsky, embracing a light, witty, and sometimes satirical style. He became associated with the group "Les Six," a collective of young French composers (including Milhaud, Honegger, Auric, Tailleferre and Durey) who rejected the heavy romanticism of Wagner and Debussy in favor of clarity and humor.

In the 1930s, Poulenc’s style matured, balancing his witty, urbane character with newfound emotional depth. A major turning point came in 1936 when the death of a close friend led him to rediscover his Catholic faith. This spiritual awakening resulted in deeply religious compositions, such as “Litanies à la Vierge Noire” (1936) and “Stabat Mater” (1950).

During this period, Poulenc also composed significant chamber works, including the “Sextet for Piano and Winds” (1932/39) featured here and the “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano” (1962). His music, even in serious works, retained a sense of charm, elegance, and wit.

During World War II, Poulenc remained in France and subtly resisted the Nazi occupation through compositions such as “Figure humaine” (1943), a choral work based on resistance poems by Paul Éluard. In the post-war years, he gained international fame, composing operatic works such as “Dialogues des Carmélites” (1956), which is considered one of the greatest 20th-century operas for its powerful emotional depth and philosophical themes.

Poulenc’s final years were marked by continued success and international recognition. He composed his “Sonata for Oboe and Piano” and “Sonata for Clarinet and Piano” shortly before his death. On January 30, 1963, Poulenc died of a heart attack in Paris at the age of 64.

Other works for winds include:

• Aubade (1929)

• Quatre poèmes de Max Jacob (1921/1993)

• Sonata for Horn, Trumpet, and Trombone (1922)

• Suite Française d’après Claude Gervaise (1935)