Trois Novelettes
Trois Novelettes are three short pieces for piano composed by Francis Poulenc.
The first two novelettes, in C major and B-flat minor, FP 47, written in 1927 and 1928 respectively, were originally published together. The third, in E minor, FP 173, was written in 1959. These novelettes demonstrate multi-layered piano writing.
- Novelette in C major is dedicated to Virginie Liénard, a family friend, also the dedicatee of Poulenc's piano suite Soirées de Nazelles. The piece features a neo-classical song-like melody interrupted by a central contrasting section.
- Novelette in B-flat minor is similar in ways to a scherzo. It is dedicated to Poulenc's friend and critic Louis Laloy.
- Novelette in E minor is based on Manuel de Falla's [time signature|] theme from El [amor brujo], simplified by Poulenc into time, and without a contrasting section. It employs fluid arpeggio figures. This piece is dedicated to Poulenc's close friend R. Douglas Gibson.
- Manuel de Falla: Reference is found in Pantomima, Andantino Tranquilo.