André Jolivet's Piano Sonata, composed in 1945, is a tribute to Béla Bartok, who had recently passed away.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Jolivet believed that the form of a musical work should emerge from its material, which for him was primarily melodic, rather than adhering to pre-established structures like sonata form.
Compositional Technique
Jolivet's compositional style, particularly in the Piano Sonata, is characterized by 'directed atonality' and the mathematical notion of symmetry.
Historical Context
The Piano Concerto was commissioned by Henri Barraud, director of the ORTF (the French broadcasting bureau), to reflect the post-war aesthetic and ethical concerns of its time.
Critical Reception
Jolivet's Piano Concerto, composed between 1948 and 1950, caused a scandal at its 1951 premiere in Strasbourg but was acclaimed in Paris a year later and adapted into a successful ballet.
Compositional Technique
Jolivet's Piano Concerto incorporates extra-European influences, particularly in its orchestral timbre and percussion choices, to evoke instruments like the balafon, an African wooden-slat instrument.
Performer Biography
Pascal Gallet, the pianist on this recording, began his piano studies with Eliane Richepin and Paul Crapie, and made his first television appearance at the age of 10.
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