Little Symphony No. 2 (Milhaud)

Movement 1, “Joyeux,” is a frolicsome piece in ternary form that juxtaposes duple and triple meters between strings and woodwinds. Played separately, the soaring melodies of the flute and the English horn are typical of the romantic period but are contrasted with the aggressive double bass line. However, as is typical of Milhaud’s polyphony, the voices sound fairly cacophonic when played simultaneously. The movement frantically climaxes and suddenly ends, following a quick run in the woodwinds.

Running time: 0:43

Movement 2, “Calme,” lives up to its name in style. An English horn solo opens the piece, playing over a smooth bassoon part and muted strings which bring to mind a babbling brook. The flute enters to rhythmically support (and harmonically oppose) the other woodwinds, all while the strings’ rhythms are augmented, turning simple arpeggio patterns into textural body. This thins out after the strings’ trill, with ornamental figures in the woodwinds that decrease in length and volume to the tranquil end of the movement.

Running time: 2:48

Movement 3, again subtitled “Joyeux,” is a mixed-meter movement, defined by the constant repetition (ostinato) of the flute’s simple four measure phrase. The woodwinds’ playfully articulated polytonal melodies are supported by rhythmically-driven string parts, both based on duple subdivisions. Woodwind melodies are individually pleasant-sounding, but they do not match up harmonically. Throughout the movement, the melody alternates between instruments, most notably in the violin’s birdcall phrases, which define the contours of the movement. The movement crescendos to a forte melody in the double bass and violin, and from there decrescendos to the end. Overall, the movement is reminiscent of Igor Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat, which premiered in 1918.

Running time: 1:06