Pastorales de Noël

Pastorales de Noël (Christmas Pastoral) is a trio composition for flute, bassoon and harp written by André Jolivet in 1943.[1] It is cast in four movements and lasts about 12 minutes.[2]

It has been described as an "unusual and very lovely Christmas piece".[3]

Overview

The work, for the most part gentle and evocative, establishes a mood of antiquity.[1] The four scenes are vividly characterized and the instruments are used to great effect.[3]

The opening movement, "L'Étoile (The Star) begins with a mysterious duet for flute and bassoon[4][5] and features sparkling harp arpeggios.[3] In "Les Mages", the bassoon and the flute echo the Magis' efforts during their journey, with a melody that displays a characteristic augmented interval (E-flat to F-sharp).[3][5] The goal of their pilgrimage is the subject of the next movement, "La Vierge et l'enfant". It is extremely simple, based entirely on the C minor scale. The harmony consists only of three chords: C minor, F minor and G minor[5] and calls to mind a peaceful lullaby.[4] The final movement, "Entrée et danse des bergers" (Entrance and Dance of the Shepherds) is more rhythmically complex and changes metre several times.[1] It ends unexpectedly on an E major chord with added sixth.[5]

Movements
  1. L'Étoile
  2. Les Mages
  3. La Vierge et l'enfant
  4. Entrée et danse des bergers[2]

Selected discography
  • Castagner, Faisandier, Laskine, 2005, Recorded in 1956, Accord 2CD 4767783.
  • Trio Nordmann, 1972, Erato STU-70-706.
  • The Britten–Pears Ensemble, 1995, ASV CD DCA-918.
  • Manuela Wiesler, Christian Davidsson, Erica Goodman, 1996, Bis Records CD 739.
  • Ensemble Arpeggio, 2004, ASV QS 6252.

References
  1. Joseph Stevenson. André Jolivet: Pastorales de Noël at AllMusic
  2. "André Jolivet: Pastorales de Noël (1943)" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  3. Gwyn Parry-Jones (March 2002). "Review, French Music for Bassoon". Musicweb-international. Pavane ADW7349.
  4. Chicago Chamber Musicians, program notes by Dr. Richard E. Rodda, October 2007. "Jolivet, André: Pastorales de Noël". Archived from the original on May 2, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  5. Chamber Concerts by members of the New York Philharmonic, program notes by Gregory Karl.
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