List of compositions by Francis Poulenc explained

This is a list of works written by the French composer Francis Poulenc (1899–1963).

As a pianist, Poulenc composed many pieces for his own instrument in his piano music and chamber music. He wrote works for orchestra including several concertos, also three operas, two ballets, incidental music for plays and film music. He composed songs (mélodies), often on texts by contemporary authors. His religious music includes the Mass in G major, the Stabat Mater and Gloria.

Overview

The composer had written a catalogue of his works in 1921, which is reproduced in Schmidt's book. According to this list, the first noted piece was in 1914 Processional pour la crémation d'un mandarin for piano, now lost or destroyed. Poulenc completed his last work, his Oboe Sonata, in 1962.

Piano, chamber music and songs

As a professional pianist, Poulenc wrote many pieces for his own instrument. He was a prolific writer of works of chamber music, often with piano, and some works for two pianos. Poulenc composed many songs (mélodies), most of them accompanied by piano, but some also in versions with a small instrumental ensembles, for example his Rapsodie nègre for baritone, flute, clarinet, string quartet and piano. He composed easily for woodwind instruments, scoring for example a piano trio with oboe and bassoon instead of the traditional violin and cello. Poulenc was less familiar with string instruments. The cellist Pierre Fournier helped him to write the Cello Sonata, which he premiered with the composer as the pianist. Poulenc destroyed all sketches for string quartets and three for violin sonatas, while only the fourth one survived, but was received critically.

Orchestra and stage

Among his works with orchestra are three operas, two ballet, incidental music for plays, film music and concertos, some with unusual solo instruments such as harpsichord and organ. The harpsichordist Wanda Landowska inspired the composition of the Concert champêtre.

Collaboration in the group Les Six

Poulenc was a member of the group of composers Les Six, with Georges Auric, Louis Durey, Arthur Honegger, Darius Milhaud and Germaine Tailleferre, and contributed to their collective productions, which included another ballet.

Sacred music and choral music

Poulenc turned to writing also religious music in the 1930s, composing a Mass in G major for a cappella choir. He composed the Stabat Mater in 1950 in memory of the painter Christian Bérard in 1950. The late Gloria for soprano, choir and orchestra became one of his best-known works. He drew inspiration for his sacred compositions mostly from liturgical texts.

Songs

For his songs and song cycles, he often collaborated with contemporary poets, setting poems by writers such as Guillaume Apollinaire, Louis Aragon, Paul Éluard, Max Jacob, Federico García Lorca, and Louise de Vilmorin, whom he mentioned in titles. He further set poems by Théodore de Banville, Maurice Carême, Colette, Robert Desnos, Maurice Fombeure, Marie Laurencin, Madeleine Ley, François de Malherbe, Ronsard, Jean Moréas, Jean Nohain and Paul Valéry, among others. In 1943, during the occupation of France, a cantata Figure humaine on poems by Éluard which celebrate Liberté.

List of works by FP number

The Music of Francis Poulenc (1899–1963): A Catalogue, abbreviated FP, is a chronological catalogue of Francis Poulenc's works which was published by Carl B. Schmidt in 1995. Schmidt provides for each known composition, which includes unfinished, unpublished and lost works, a detailed history of composition and performance, and lists manuscripts and publications.

In the table, the works are initially listed by the FP number. Other information given is the French title, a translation if commonly used, the key, the scoring if not clear from the title, the year(s) of composition, the genre, text information, notes and a free score when available, and the page number in the catalogue. Abbreviations used are "rev." for "revised", "orch." for "orchestration", arr. for "arrangement" and "sc." for "score".

In Genre, instrumental pieces are distinguished as orchestral and chamber music, particularly that for piano. The group of stage works contains operas, ballets and incidental music, while film scores are marked separately. Sacred and secular music for voice is divided in choral, for cantatas and motets, and vocal, holding songs and song cycles.

FPYearTitleGenreScoringTextNotes
11914Processional pour la crémation d'un mandarinpianodestroyed or lost
p. 11
21916Préludespianodestroyed
31917 (rev. 1933)Rapsodie nègrevocalMakoko Kangourou (Marcel Prouille and Charles Moulié)sc.
41917Scherzo for two pianos Zèbrepianodestroyed or lost (fragment)
51918Trois Pastoralespiano
61918Poème sénégalaisvocaldestroyed or lost
71919Sonata for two clarinetschamberdedicated to Édouard Souberbielle · sc.
7b1925Sonatapianopiano version of FP 7
81918 (rev. 1939)Sonata for piano 4 handspianodedicated to Simone Tilliard · sc.
91918Prélude-Percussionsolopercussiondestroyed or lost
101918Le Jongleurpianodestroyed or lost
111918 (rev. 1932)Toréador chanson hispano-italiennevocalJean Cocteausc.
121918Violin Sonatachamberdestroyed or lost
131918Sonata for piano triochamberdestroyed or lost
14a1918 (rev. 1939, 1962)Trois mouvements perpétuelspianosc. · p. 32
14b1925 (rev. 1939, 1962)Trois mouvements perpétuelschamberarr. of FP 14a
15a1919Le Bestiaire (ou Cortège d’Orphée) vocalGuillaume Apollinairesc.
15b1922Le Bestiaire (ou Cortège d’Orphée)vocalarr. of FP 15a
16a1919Cocardes vocalCocteaudedicated to Auric · sc.
16b1939Cocardesvocalarr. of FP 16a
17a1919Valse in Cpianopart of L'Album des Six · sc.
17b1932Valse in Corchestralorch. of FP 17a
181919Quadrille for piano 4 handspianolost or destroyed
191920 (rev. 1926)Piano Suitepianosc.
20a1920–21Le Gendarme incomprisstage (opera)Cocteau and Raymond Radiguetlyric comedy in one act
20b1921Le Gendarme incompris (suite)chambersc.
211920–215 Impromptuspianosc.
221921Quatre poèmes de Max Jacob vocalMax Jacobdedicated to Darius Milhaud
/11921La baigneuse de Trouville (Carte Postale en couleurs)stage (ballet)orchestrapart of the collaborative Les mariés de la tour Eiffel, ballet by Cocteau
23/21921Discours du Général (Polka)stage (ballet)orchestrapart of the collaborative Les mariés de la tour Eiffel, ballet by Cocteau
241921 (rev. 1952)Promenadespianosc.
251921Esquisse pour une fanfareorchestralsc., overture for Act V of Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
2619213 Etudes for pianolapianolost or destroyed
271921Première suite d'orchestreorchestrallost or destroyed
281921String Quartet no. 1chamberlost or destroyed
291921Trio for piano, clarinet and cellochamberlost or destroyed
301921Military marches for piano and orchestraorchestrallost or destroyed (fragments)
311922Chanson à boirechoralmen's choiranonymous texts of the 17th century, English by J. V. Hugosc.
32a1922Sonata for clarinet and bassoonchambersc.
32b1945Sonatapianopiano version of FP 32a
33a1922Sonata for horn, trumpet and trombonechamber
33b1945Sonatapianopiano version of FP 33a
341922Caprice espagnolpianolost or destroyed
351923La colombestage (opera)recitatives for Charles Gounod's opera
361922Les bichesstage (ballet)sc.
36b1939–40Les biches (Suite)orchestralfrom FP 36a
36c1923Les biches (Suite)orchestralfrom FP 36
371923Clarinet Quintetchamberlost or destroyed
38a1924–25Poèmes de Pierre Ronsard vocalPierre Ronsardsc.
38b1924–25Poèmes de Pierre Ronsardvocalorch. of 38a
391924–25Violin Sonata No. 2chamberlost or destroyed
401922–25Napolipianosc.
411925Dorfmusikanten-Sextett von Mozartlost or destroyed
421925Chansons gaillardes vocalsc.
431926Trio for oboe, bassoon and pianochambersc.
441927Vocalisevocal
451927Pastourellestage (ballet)part of the collaborative L'Éventail de Jeanne by ten composers
45b1927Pastourellepianopiano version of FP 45a, sc.
461927–28Airs chantés vocalJean Moréassc.
471927–28 (rev. 1939)Novelettespianosc.
481928 (rev. 1953)3 Piecespianosc.
491927–29Concert champêtreorchestralsc.
50a1929Pièce brève sur le nom d'Albert RousselpianoNo. 3 of the collaborative Hommage à Roussel (2 mélodies and 6 pièces for piano by Conrad Beck, Roger Delage, Arthur Honegger, Arthur Hoérée, Jacques Ibert, Darius Milhaud and Alexandre Tansman) published in addition to the Revue musicale (April 1929)
50b1949Pièce brève sur le nom d'Albert Rousselorchestralorch. of FP 50a
51a1929Aubade, concerto chorégraphiquestage (ballet)sc
51b1929Aubadepianopiano version of FP 51a
521929Fanfarelost or destroyed
531929Valsepianolost or destroyed
541929Violin Sonata No. 3chamberlost or destroyed
551930ÉpitaphevocalFrançois de Malherbesc.
561929–308 Nocturnespianosc.
571931Trois poèmes de Louise Lalanne vocalLouise Lalannesc.
581931Quatre poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire vocalApollinairesc.
591931Cinq poèmes de Max Jacob vocalJacobsc.
1932Le Bal masquévocalJacobcomposed for Marie-Laure and Charles de Noailles · sc.
60.I1932Capricepianopiano version of Final from FP 60
60.II1932Intermèdepianofrom FP 60.I
60.III1932Bagatellechamberexcerpts from FP 60.I
611932Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestraorchestralsc.
621932Valse-improvisation sur le nom de BACHpianoNo. 3 of the collaborative Hommage à J. S. Bach (with Albert Roussel, Alfredo Casella, Gian Francesco Malipiero and Arthur Honegger), sc.
631932–3410 Improvisationspianosc.
641933Intermezzostage (incidental)incidental music for Jean Giraudoux's play
651933Villageoises 6 petites pièces enfantinespianosc.
661932PierrotvocalThéodore de Banville
671932Petruslost or destroyed
681933Feuillets d’albumpianosc.
691934Huit chansons polonaises vocalanonymous in French and Polishsc.
701934Presto in B majorpianodedicated to Vladimir Horowitz · sc.
7119342 Intermezzipianosc.
721934Humoresquepiano
731934Badinagepiano
741934Villanellechamberdedicated to Louise Hanson-Dyer
751934–35Quatre chansons pour enfants vocalJean Nohain
761936La Belle au bois dormantfilmmusic for the commercial film by Alexandre Alexeieff
771935Cinq poèmes de Paul Éluard vocalPaul Éluardsc.
781935La Reine Margotstage (incidental))incidental music for Édouard Bourdet's play, in collaboration with Auric
79a1935À sa guitarevocalRonsardafter FP 78 · sc
79b1935À sa guitarevocalorch. of 79a
80a1935Suite française d'après Claude Gervaisechambersc.
80b1935Suite françaisepianopiano version of Fp80a
811936Sept Chansons choralchoir1 & 6: Apollinaire; 2–5 & 7: Éluardsc.
82a1936Litanies à la Vierge Noire Notre-Dame de Rocamadourchoralsc.
82b1947Litanies à la Vierge Noirechoralorch. of FP 82a
831936Petites Voix choral3-part women's (or children's) choirMadeleine Ley
841930–36Soirées de Nazellespianosc.
851936Plains-chants de Cocteauvocallost or destroyed
861936–37Tel jour telle nuit vocalÉluardsc.
871937Bourrée, au pavillon d’Auvergnepianopart of the collaborative À l’exposition, 1937 · sc.
881937Deux marches et un intermèdeorchestralsc.
891937Mass in G majorchoralsc. · p. 288
901937SécheresseschoralEdward Jamessc.
911937Trois poèmes de Louise de Vilmorin vocalLouise de Vilmorin
921938Le PortraitvocalColette
931934–38Organ Concertoorchestral
941938Deux poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire vocalApollinairesc.
951938Priez pour paixvocalCharles d'Orléanssc.
961938La GrenouillèrevocalApollinairesc.
971938–39Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence choralmixed choirsc. · p. 288–292
981938–39Miroirs brûlants vocalÉluardsc. · p. 293–294
991939Ce doux petit visagevocalÉluardsc.
1001932 (rev. 1939–40)Sextetchambersc.
1011939Fiançailles pour rire vocalVilmorin
1021939BleuetvocalApollinaire
1031939Françaisepianosc.
1041939Deux préludes posthumes et une gnossienneorchestralchamber orchestraorch. of pieces by Erik Satie
1051940Mélancoliepianosc.
1061940Léocadiastage (incidental)incidental music for Jean Anouilh's play · lost but for FP 106-Ia
106-Ia1940Les Chemins de l'amourvocalJean Anouilhsung waltz from FP 106 · sc.
106-Ib1940Les Chemins de l'amourvocalorch. of FP 106-Ia
1071940Banalités vocalApollinairesc.
1081940ColloquevocalPaul Valéry
1091941Exultate Deochoral4-part choirsc.
1101941Salve Reginachoral4-part choirsc.
111a1940–41Les Animaux modèlesstage (ballet)
111b1942Les Animaux modèles (Suite)orchestralsix movements from FP 111a
1121941La Fille du jardinierstage (incidental)incidental music for Charles Exbrayat's play
11319412 Improvisationspianosc.
1141941Un joueur de flûte berce les ruineschamberfluteunpublished
1151941String Triochamberlost or destroyed
1161942La Duchesse de Langeaisfilmmusic for the film by Jacques de Baroncelli, adapted from Honoré de Balzac's novel by Jean Giraudoux
117a1942Chansons villageoises vocalMaurice Fombeure
117b1942Chansons villageoisesvocalorch. of FP 117a
11819433 Intermezzipianosc.
1191942–43 (rev. 1949)Violin Sonatachambersc. · p. 330–332
1201943Figure humaine choral12-part choirÉluardp. 333–335
1211943Métamorphoses vocalVilmorin
1221943Deux poèmes de Louis Aragon vocalLouis Aragon
1231943Le Voyageur sans bagagefilmmusic for the film by Jean Anouilh
1241944La Nuit de la Saint-Jeanstage (incidental)incidental music for the play by J. M. Barrie
1251944Les Mamelles de Tirésiasstage (opera)Apollinairesc.
1261944Un soir de neige choral4-6-part mixed choirÉluardsc.
127-11941–45MontparnassevocalApollinaire
127-21945Hyde ParkvocalApollinaire
1281945Le Soldat et la Sorcièrestage (incidental)incidental music for the play by Armand Salacrou
1291940–45L'Histoire de Babar, le petit éléphantvocalJean de Brunhofforch. by Jean Françaix, sc.
1301945Huit chansons françaises choralsc.
1311946Deux mélodies sur des poèmes de Guillaume Apollinaire vocalApollinaire
1321946Paul et VirginievocalRaymond Radiguetsc.
1331946String Quartet no. 2chamberlost or destroyed
1341947Le DisparuvocalRobert Desnos
1351947Main dominée par le cœurvocalÉluardsc.
1361947Trois chansons de Federico García Lorca vocalFederico García Lorca
1371947Mais mourirvocalÉluard
1381947L'Invitation au châteaustage (incidenal)incidental music for Jean Anouilh's play
1391947Amphitryonstage (incidental)incidental music for Molière's 1668 play for the compagnie Renaud-Barrault at the théâtre Marigny
1401948Calligrammes vocalApollinaire
1411947Sinfoniettaorchestralsc.
1421948Quatre petites prières de saint François d’Assise choral4-part men's choirFrancis of Assisisc.
1431940–48 (rev. 1953)Cello Sonatachambersc. · p. 393–395
1441947HymnevocalJean Racinesc.
1451949Les Bijoux de poitrine, mazurkavocalVilmorinpart of the collaborative song cycle Les Mouvements du cœur in memory of Frédéric Chopin, with Darius Milhaud, Henri Sauguet, Auric, Jean Françaix and Léon Preger, premiered by bass Doda Conrad
1461949Piano Concertoorchestralsc.
1471950La Fraîcheur et le Feu vocalÉluard
1481950–51Stabat Materchoralsc.
1491951Le Voyage en Amériquepiano2 pianosmusic for the film by Henri Lavorel
1501951L'Embarquement pour Cythèrepiano2 pianosValse musette after FP 149 · sc.
1511951Thème variépianosc.
1521951–52Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël choral4-part choirsc. · p. 417–419
1531952Matelote provençaleorchestralpart of the colleborative La guirlande de Campra
1541952Ave verum corpuschoral3-part women's chorussc.
1551952Capricciopiano2 pianosafter Le Bal masqué FP 60, dedicated to Samuel Barber
1561953Sonate for two pianospiano
1571954Parisiana vocalJacobsc.
1581954RosemondevocalApollinairesc.
1591956Dialogues of the Carmelitesstage (opera)Georges Bernanossc.
1601954Bucoliqueorchestralpart of the collaborative Variations sur le nom de Marguerite Long
1611956Le Travail du peintre vocalÉluard
1621956Two mélodies vocal1: Apollinaire, 2: Laurence de Beylié
1631956Dernier PoèmevocalDesnossc.
1641956–57Flute Sonatachambersc.
1651957Ave Marialost or destroyed
1661957Bassoon Sonatachamberlost or destroyed
1671956Vive Nadiavocalhomage to Nadia Boulanger
1681957Élégie pour cor et pianochamberhomage to Dennis Brain
1691956Une chanson de porcelainevocalÉluard
1701958Improvisation 13–14pianosc.
1711958La voix humainestage (opera)Cocteausc.
1721957–59Laudes de saint Antoine de Padoue choral3-part men's choirsc.
1731958–59Novelettepianosc.
1741959Fancyvocalafter Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venicesc.
1751959Elegy for 2 pianospianohomage to Marguerite de Polignac (called Marie-Blanche) · sc.
1761959Improvisation 15pianohomage to Édith Piaf · sc.
1771959Gloriachoralsc.
1781960La Courte Paille vocalMaurice Carême
1791960Sarabande for guitarchamberdedicated to Ida Presti · sc.
1961La Dame de Monte-CarlovocalCocteau
1811961Sept répons des ténèbreschoralsc.
1821961Nos souvenirs qui chantentvocalTatry
1831962Renaud et Armidestage (incidental)incidental music for Cocteau's 1943 play
1841962Clarinet Sonatachambersc.
1851962Oboe Sonatachambersc.
??1950Ce siècle a cinquante ansfilmorchestramusic for the documentary directed by Denise Batcheff, Roland Tual and, composed in collaboration with Auric, Henri Sauguet and Jean Wiener

List of works by genre

Stage works

Ballet

Opera

Orchestral

Concertante

Vocal/choral orchestral

Chamber/Instrumental

Piano

Solo piano

See main article: List of solo piano compositions by Francis Poulenc.

Piano four hands

Two pianos

Choral

Vocal

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.classicalarchives.com/work/100023.html#tvf=tracks&tv=about Classical Archives