Jolivet, Andre - 1905-1974

[Serial_Apologist]

Good to see this French composer getting some rare exposure this week on Radio 3:

Monday 9th - 2.00 Afternoon on 3
2.35 - Jolivet: Bassoon Concerto (1954)

Tuesday 10th - 2.00 Afternoon on 3
3.25 - Jolivet: Symphony No 3 (1964)

Wednesday 11th - 2.00 Afternoon on 3
2.40 - Interval: Jolivet: Cello Concerto No 2 (1966)

A pupil of Varese (asmong others) Jolivet co-founded La Spirale in the early 1930s with Messiaen, Daniel Lesur and the film-composer-to-be Yves Baudrier as an intended antidote to the strength of Neo-Classical influence over French music of the time, and with the aim of restoring indigenous character and sense of spirituality. His own "Mana Suite" of piano pieces from 1935, which I have never heard, is said to have had influence on Messiaen; indeed, Jolivet is said to have been more highly regarded at home than his better-known near-contemporary after WW2. My own impression of the few works of his that I have is of a varied composer both in terms of style and inspiration, from the charming "Pastorales de Noel" for flute, viola and harp, clearly influenced by a likewise scored piece from 1915 by Jolivet's most illustrious forbear, by way of the extraordinary, one might say visionary Concerto for Ondes Martenot and Orchestra, composed 6 years later in 1948, to the late "Yin Yang" for 11 strings of 1973, a vigorous work effectively composed for 11 strings, in style atonal and closer to Boulez. A fascinating figure from a neglected group, Messiaen apart (and there are many others one could cite from that period of French music besides Francaix!). So now's a chance for us to do a little catching up, though how I would love a COTW devoted to, say, Jolivet, Daniel Lesur, Baudrier, Marcel Landowski, Jean-Luis Martinet, Michel Le Roux, Jean Cartier, Serge Nigg...! C'mon Beeb - surely ORTF have a few recordings by these neglecteds they'd lend us??

[Serial_Apologist]

On right now. The composer's daughter is in on some of the introductions.

Surprise yourselves!

[Serial_Apologist]

Excepting Messiaen, and occasional exchanges on Boulez, this forum, I've noticed, manifests few interests in French music as a whole. This will therefore be my final call on this topic.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I've occasionally tried introducing composers such as Gouvy, Ropartz & Magnard. The problem is that French music on R3 is dominated excessively by Debussy & Ravel and to a lesser extent Saint-Saens (rarely his most interesting works however) and Faure and some Berlioz. Outside these main composers 19th and 20th century French music is not well known in this country with the further exception of small amounts of Bizet, Poulenc, Messiaen and Boulez. I welcome the Jolivet this week, I confess to not knowing much, but I see there are opportunities on itunes and spotify to try and broaden my knowledge further.

[aeolium]

I listened to the Jolivet yesterday and enjoyed it (I am interested in bassoon works anyway). It seemed both challenging - for the soloist - and witty. I think French baroque music especially is underrepresented in the R3 schedules, though it is good to see F Couperin on CotW this week, and a Rameau opera broadcast on Saturday. I agree with sc about the overemphasis on Debussy and Ravel.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I would disagree that Debussy and Ravel are "excessively" "overemphasized" on R3: when was the last time the Duo for Violin & Cellobroadcast, or the Sonata for Flute Harp & Viola? Chansons Madagassque or En Blanc et Noir? L'heure Espagnol or the Debussy Etudes? Isn't it rather another case of the same works repeated at the expense of other, at least equally fine, masterpieces?

Glad to hear Jolivet: he's much better than I'd remembered from the Trumpet Concertino, which had rather put me off examining further.

Best Wishes.

[Suffolkcoastal]

I'm afraid the figures from last year speak for themselves and Debussy & Ravel between them account for a considerable proportion of French music on R3. I do however agree especially especially when it comes to Debussy that it is the more popular works (especially La Mer, the Preludes and String Quartet) that are over-played and works like the Etudes, considerably underplayed, this is more obvious with Faure & Saint-Saens however, which rely on an overexposure of a relatively small number of works. I would love to hear a greater variety of French music on R3, let us hope that this small Jolivet offering may be the start of this.

[aeolium]

I'm afraid the figures from last year speak for themselves and Debussy & Ravel between them account for a considerable proportion of French music on R3.

And I think pretty well every year in the last 10, sc. I recall a table compiled by a boardee on the old R3 boards for 2004 and IIRC Debussy and Ravel were at the top of that as well - that was a table of works most frequently played, so it may be as fhg says that it is the same works coming round again and again. Anyway, it's a pity.

[Bryn]

This 4 disc box offers a reasonable introduction to Jolivet's work. Then there is much flute music to explore.



Oh, and it only costs around £12.

[umslopogaas]

fhg (#6), which trumpet concerto was the one that put you off? I have an Erato LP (which I suspect has been reissued to form part of the CD featured in the last post) and it features four works:

Heptade
Arioso Barocco
Deuxieme concerto pour trompette
Concertino pour trompette

In so far as my very poor knowledge of French can decipher the notes, the Concertino was later renamed as the first concerto.

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks everyone for responding understandingly to my huffy message 3. I had previously tried introducing the subject of Jolivet on the old R3 messageboards by contributing to a thread on recommendations for neglected composers for COTW, and had received not one response.

In addition to music by composers rightly mentioned in the above posts the past few years COTWs have been devoted to Faure, and to composers around the Schola Cantorum, (or maybe it was pupils of Cesar Franck - I recall Chausson, Dukas and D'Indy being taken as a group). Several years ago a week was devoted to Charles Koechlin's music, the presenter asking somewhat rhetorically why it was that we had not heard more of this terrific composer; Dutilleux has thankfully been brought to our attention, and my own wish would be further coverage for that same in-between generation of composers bridging the eras of Les Six and Boulez. Messiaen was not alone in helping in the creation of a climate more conducive to modern trends outside France at the time. In listing several names in Message 1 I realise I omitted two more significant Henris: Henri Sauguet, Erik Satie's one pupil I believe, and Henri Barraud, who was greatly admired by Messiaen.

I'm probably expecting too much...

S-A

[Serial_Apologist]

This 4 disc box offers a reasonable introduction to Jolivet's work. Then there is much flute music to explore.


Oh, and it only costs around £12.

Thanks for this, Bryn - we don't always see ear-to-ear!

[Serial_Apologist]

fhg (#6), which trumpet concerto was the one that put you off? I have an Erato LP (which I suspect has been reissued to form part of the CD featured in the last post) and it features four works:

Heptade
Arioso Barocco
Deuxieme concerto pour trompette
Concertino pour trompette

In so far as my very poor knowledge of French can decipher the notes, the Concertino was later renamed as the first concerto.

The Concertino (now First Trumpet Concerto), composed in 1948, is neo-classical in style, and, I admit, rather thin in its material, though it does contain one of those dreamy, plangent romantic song melodies with almost Delian harmonies, such as we heard in the Bassoon Concerto yesterday, that are unique to Jolivet. (The Harp Concerto also has one in its slow movement). The Second Trumpet Concerto of 1954 is altogether much more adventurous in form, harmony, and instrumentation, featuring numerous percussion, and written in a jazzy style that in some ways looks towards the kinds of experimentation with unorthodox time structures and juxtaposed modes George Russell was working on with jazz groups in America around that time.

As we could hear from the Third Symphony today, a fascinating, multifaceted composer.

[DracoM]

Some VG stuff from our man this pm. Very enlivening.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

fhg (#6), which trumpet concerto was the one that put you off?

It was the CBS LP of both Concertos with Marsalis and the Philharmonia conducted by Salonen (coupled with the Tomasi concerto).
I'd forgotten about the couplings until I checked the web: and, listening to the excerpts provided, I'm surprised I was so hostile. I suppose I was expecting something more like Messiaen and less like Milhaud - I was a very "prescriptive", pompous ass IN THOSE DAYS!