Dutilleux - why only two?

[Sydney Grew]

Why has Henri Dutilleux composed only two symphonies in ninety-six years?

[Serial_Apologist]

Why has Henri Dutilleux composed only two symphonies in ninety-six years?

Both symphonies were pretty early on in his career (1950 and 1959); Prokofiev and Roussel, both of whom wrote symphonies, are still evident influences in the musical language of these works - since when Dutilleux has expunged most if not all diatonicism from his music, and possibly come to feel stylistically more identified with French music post-Messiaen that has not seen fit to identify with the slender French symphonic tradition. I wouldn't think it's because he's past it!

[ahinton]

Why has Henri Dutilleux composed only two symphonies in ninety-six years?

It's a good question but without a good answer, I fear; I imagine that only Maître Dutilleux himself could answer it and I'm not in any case sure that he would! My question would be something of an expansion of yours, to "why has he written (or released) so little music when what he has released is generally of exceptional quality?" He reaches the age of 97 in ten days' time; whether he wll compose any more music is hard to say and I understand that he has been quite frail for some time now.

[ahinton]

Dutilleux has expunged most if not all diatonicism from his music, and possibly come to feel stylistically more identified with French music post-Messiaen that has not seen fit to identify with the slender French symphonic tradition. I wouldn't think it's because he's past it!

Apart from his state of physical health, no, "past it" he most certainly isn't, but I must have perverted ears if he has "expunged" what you claim that he has! His music all sounds very tonal to me, just as it has always sounded very French, revealing a most individual development of the influences not only of Debussy and Ravel but also Schmitt, Magnard, Roussel and others.

[Sydney Grew]

. . . why has he written (or released) so little music when what he has released is generally of exceptional quality? . . .

That harks back to something our highly esteemed critic Mr. Lebrecht wrote about fifteen years ago: "Determined orchestral composer, economical of utterance in an unpropitious time and place, he limited himself to a few works that simply had to be written. For a living [under the scourge of capitalism] he could always teach. His mission, noted a sympathetic critic [unnamed], 'is to be a civilized artist, defending a certain elevated and refined notion of beauty.'"

[ahinton]

That harks back to something our highly esteemed critic Mr. Lebrecht wrote about fifteen years ago: "Determined orchestral composer, economical of utterance in an unpropitious time and place, he limited himself to a few works that simply had to be written. For a living [under the scourge of capitalism] he could always teach. His mission, noted a sympathetic critic [unnamed], 'is to be a civilized artist, defending a certain elevated and refined notion of beauty.'"

Esteemed by whom I have very little idea, but he does on occasion what Sorabji once accused the critic Martin Cooper of doing, namely lapsing into sense and the above is certainly a shining example thereof. The sheer paucity of Dutilleux's output in quantitative terms is as deplorable as the riches and sensitivity to be found all through it is an almost unmitigated delight for the rest of us; sadly, however, more music from him is not reasonably to be expected now.

[bluestateprommer]

Why only two? Maybe because he hasn't felt the need to write more than two? Or he hasn't been commissioned for a Symphony No. 3. While I'm not the biggest fan of Dutilleux's music, I certainly respect his compositional integrity. If he does not feel the need to write more symphonies, he's under no obligation to any of us. He writes in the form that suits him, whether it be song cycle, concerto, chamber work, whatever. Given his advanced age, however, and the comment about his frail health, very understandable for a man in his upper 90's, it is probably and sadly unrealistic to expect a very late flowering in the manner of Elliott Carter. I would be very happy for one more composition, if not more, from HD, if his health and energy permit.

Esteemed by whom I have very little idea, but he does on occasion what Sorabji once accused the critic Martin Cooper of doing, namely lapsing into sense and the above is certainly a shining example thereof.

Indeed, the people who esteem Lebrecht are mainly fools and sycophants, including those who can't spell quintet properly or use the English language without sounding like a 'phony', to use the term from Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. Lebrecht himself is guilty of the same property with his arch, mannered use of "we" to report his latest bit of gossip.

[Boilk]

Why has Henri Dutilleux composed only two symphonies in ninety-six years?

Dutilleux ?

[LeMartinPecheur]

Dutilleux ?

Tres Dutil(l)eux