Dutilleux was known for his uncompromising perfectionism, disowning most early works and frequently revising his mature scores.
Composition History
Symphony No. 2 'Le Double' was commissioned by the Koussevitzky Foundation for the 75th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Composer Biography
Henri Dutilleux, the composer, won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1938 and served as a stretcher bearer during the Second World War.
Compositional Technique
Dutilleux's Symphony No. 2 'Le Double' uses a 12-member chamber ensemble alongside a full orchestra, creating a 'play of mirrors and contrasting colours'.
Compositional Technique
For Timbres, espace, mouvement, Dutilleux omitted violins and violas but reinforced woodwinds and included 'metallic' percussion to capture the contrasts and upward movement of Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'.
Compositional Technique
The jazzy brass writing in Symphony No. 2 'Le Double' was partly inspired by jazz legends Count Basie and Duke Ellington.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Dutilleux revised the ending of his Second Symphony to be less conclusive, accentuating a feeling of 'probing into the unknown', after a friend noted its affinity with a Gauguin painting.
