Trois novelettes

"Trois novelettes" ("Three novelettes") are three short novelettes composed by Francis Poulenc.

The first two novelettes, in C major and B-flat minor, written in 1927 and 1928 respectively, were originally published together, with the third novellete in E minor written in 1959. These novelletes demonstrate multi-layered piano writing.

*Novelette in C major (1927) is dedicated to a family friend Virgine Liénard, which is also who his piano suite "Les soirées de Nazelles" (1930-36) is dedicated to. The piece features a neo-classical song-like melody interrupted by a central contrasting section.

*Novelette in Bb minor (1928) is similar in ways to a scherzo, dedicated to Poulenc's friend and critic, Louis Laloy.

*Novelette in E minor (1959) is based on Manuel de Falla's 7/8 theme from "El amor brujo" (1916), simplified by Poulenc in 3/8 time, interestingly for Poulenc, without a contrasting section. This piece was dedicated to his close friend R. Douglas Gibson, employing fluid arpeggio figures.

Poulenc premiered his first two novelletes at a concert in Paris on June 10, 1928.

References

Sachania, M. & Potter, C. "Francis Poulenc: Three Novelettes for Piano", Chester Music, revised edition (1999).