Francis Poulenc belonged to a group of French composers (that also included Milhaud and Honegger) who in the 1920s were called “The Six.” This group tried to distance French music from the influence of Wagner and the impressionist movement. Poulenc’s most widely known chamber music is written for wind instruments. He discarded two violin sonatas before writing this one, which recalls the composer’s memory of the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca (1899-1936), who was shot by the Fascist Falangists soon after the outbreak of civil war in his country.
This romantic and melodic work is infused with tragedy. Poulenc headed his second movement Intermezzo with a quotation from García Lorca, “The guitar makes dreams weep”.The third movement is marked Presto tragico, calling for a very quick beat but a tragic mood. Veronique Mathieu
Classical Music | Violin Music
Francis Poulenc
Violin Sonata, FP 119 Play
Recorded on 12/18/2019, uploaded on 01/29/2021
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Francis Poulenc belonged to a group of French composers (that also included Milhaud and Honegger) who in the 1920s were called “The Six.” This group tried to distance French music from the influence of Wagner and the impressionist movement. Poulenc’s most widely known chamber music is written for wind instruments. He discarded two violin sonatas before writing this one, which recalls the composer’s memory of the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca (1899-1936), who was shot by the Fascist Falangists soon after the outbreak of civil war in his country.
This romantic and melodic work is infused with tragedy. Poulenc headed his second movement Intermezzo with a quotation from García Lorca, “The guitar makes dreams weep”. The third movement is marked Presto tragico, calling for a very quick beat but a tragic mood. Veronique Mathieu
More music by Francis Poulenc
Sonata for Flute and Piano
Sonata for Cello and Piano
Hommage à Edith Piaf
Piano Concerto in C sharp minor, FP 146
Three Novelettes for piano
Mon cadavre est doux comme un gant, from Fiançailles pour rire
Les soirées de Nazelles
Fiançailles pour Rire
Les chemins de l'amour
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra
Performances by same musician(s)
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Two Pieces for Violin and Piano
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.