Sonatine for Flute and Piano

The Sonatine for Flute and Piano is one of a series of four test pieces for the Paris Conservatoire that Dutilleux wrote between 1942 and 1951. They were commissioned by then-director Claude Delvincourt. These pieces were intended both to test the technique of the students and provide them with new scores.[2]

Dutilleux was notoriously critical of his early works, including the Sonatine. He once stated that he had never been completely happy that it was played so often[3] but he never withdrew it.

... the flute piece is the Sonatine for Flute and Piano, which has been recorded many times abroad, although I have never wanted it to be recorded in France because it doesn’t yet sound really like my music. But I haven’t put any embargo on that.[2][4]

The work has become a standard of the flute repertoire[2] and has been performed many times by flautists such as Sharon Bezaly, James Strauss and Emmanuel Pahud. As of 2014, it is Dutilleux's most often recorded work.[5]

The sonatine is structured in 3 sections played without a break.[6]

The first section features a mysterious theme in ⁷
₈ contrasting with jagged piano figures. It concludes with a cadenza that provides a transition to the lyrical second section. The last section features rapid exchanges between the flute and the piano before another short but difficult cadenza recalls the themes heard before. A frenzied accelerando played by both instruments concludes the piece.[6]

1. Allegretto
2. Andante
3. Animé