Henri Dutilleux: Sonatine: Flute: Instrumental Work

Created in 1943 as part of the four exam pieces for the Paris Conservatoire this charming Sonatine for Flute and Piano is part of the early works of Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) a French Composer following the paths of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy. Even though the composer was later quite critical about it this Sonatine which lasts 9 minutes is the most recorded of his compositions and has become a standard in the flute repertoire. Composed of three movements it begins with a tempo “Allegretto” followed by a part more “Andante” and finishes with a cadence “Animé”. Henri Dutilleux was internationally acclaimed for his work winning prizes such as the Gold Medal of the Royal Philharmonic Society and the UNESCO's International Rostrum of Composers among many others. His work also includes sonatas for piano and for oboe two symphonies the cello concerto Tout un monde lointain (A whole distant world) the violin concerto L'arbre des songes (The tree of dreams) and the string quartet Ainsi la nuit (Thus the night).