Les Citations

A highly-regarded Frenchman, Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) drew influences from Stravinsky, Bartók, Ravel, Debussy and was inspired by art and literature (Van Gogh, Proust, Anne Frank). Dutilleux refused to be associated with any particular school of composition. He merged post-World War II innovations with the style of earlier composers. His works feature pedal points serving as atonal pitch centers, refined orchestral textures, complex rhythms. Dutilleux said that he regretted not being a more prolific composer, but that he was unable to be due to his own doubts of his work and the time he spent making revisions. Many of the composer’s works were either commissioned or bear dedication to some of the most prominent musicians (Cleveland Orchestra, Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Renée Fleming).
Les Citations was first composed in 1985 and expanded with revisions and additions in 1991 and 2010. The first section, “For Aldeburgh 85” is developed on a quote from Britten’s Peter Grimes and is dedicated to Peter Pears for his 75th birthday, a tenor who premiered the leading role in the beloved Britten’s opera. The next movement, “From Janequin to Jehan Alain,” displays a complex example of “citations.” Alain’s work, Variations for Organ on a theme by Clément Janequin, borrowed a melody from Janequin’s chanson. Dutillieux quotes both examples, connecting them by a quote from his own ballet Le Loup (The Wolf). Les Citations is a haunting, yet colorful work, exploring tonal, technical and expressive possibilities of the four instruments.

(c) Jason Stell and Jessica Embach Jankauskas