Francis Poulenc's "Huit Nocturnes" For Piano: A Performer's Guide

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Francis Poulenc's "Huit Nocturnes" for Piano: A

Performer's Guide
Renny Sie
University of Miami, [email protected]
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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
FRANCIS POULENC’S HUIT NOCTURNES FOR PIANO: A PERFORMER’S GUIDE
By
Renny Sie
A DOCTORAL ESSAY
Submitted to the Faculty

of the University of Miami
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts
Coral Gables, Florida
May 2013

©2013
Renny Sie
All Rights Reserved

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
A doctoral essay submitted in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Musical Arts
FRANCIS POULENC’S HUIT NOCTURNES FOR PIANO: A

PERFORMER’S GUIDE
Renny Sie
Approved:
________________ _________________
Santiago Rodriguez, M.M. M. Brian Blake, Ph.D.
Professor of Keyboard Performance Dean of the Graduate School
________________ _________________
James R. Floyd, D.M. Tian Ying, M.M.
Professor of Keyboard Performance Associate Professor of
Keyboard Performance
________________
Dennis Kam, D.M.A.
Professor of Music Theory and Composition

SIE, RENNY. (D.M.A., Keyboard Performance)

Francis Poulenc’s Huit Nocturnes for Piano: A Performer’s (May 2013)
Guide.
Abstract of a doctoral essay at the University of Miami.
Doctoral essay supervised by Professor Santiago Rodriguez.

No. of pages in text. (81)
Although more famous for his vocal songs, French composer Francis Poulenc
(1899-1963) contributed immensely to keyboard literature. Unfortunately, his works for
solo piano are rarely studied and/or performed by pianists today. One of the most
neglected piano works of Francis Poulenc is the set of eight pieces titled Huit Nocturnes
pour piano. Recent research showed that there are very few scholarly studies found
about Poulenc and no studies focused on his Nocturnes were found.
The objectives of this study are to provide a performance guide for pianists who
are exploring Poulenc’s piano works, specifically directed at, but not limited to Nocturnes
and to promote awareness of Poulenc’s piano works. In order to achieve these objectives,
the Nocturnes will be explored historically and musically in this essay. This essay starts
with an introductory chapter that describes the issues, purpose, and methodology of this
study. The second chapter consists of a brief biography of Francis Poulenc and historical
background on Nocturnes. The third chapter has eight subchapters, in which performance
related issues are discussed in detail. A brief concluding chapter will complete this essay.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES……………………………………………………iv
LIST OF TABLES..…………………………………………………………………...vii
LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………..…………………….viii
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………....1
2 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH…………………………………..………15
3 PERFORMANCE GUIDE……………………………………..……...37
4 CONCLUSION…………………………….………………………….76
BIBLIOGRAPHY……………………………………………………………….…….79
iii

LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES
Example 1.1 Nocturne No.1, mm.1-7……………………………………………………10
Example 1.2 Nocturne No.1, mm.24-31…………………………………………………12
Example 1.4 Sextet: III Finale, mm. 90-95………………………………………………14
Example 2.2 Nocturne No.2, m. 1…….…………………………………………………28
Example 2.6 Satie, Gymnopedie No.1, mm. 1-5…………………………………………32
Example 2.7 Satie, Gnosienne No.1, mm. 1-4...…………………………………………32
Example 2.9 Nocturne No.2, m.1.….……………………………………………………35
Example 2.10 Nocturne No.7, mm.1-2..…………………………………………………35
Example 2.11 Nocturne No.1, mm.87-92..………………………………………………36
Example 2.12 Nocturne No.8, mm. 30-34..……………………………………………...36
Example 3.1 Nocturne No.1, mm. 87-92..…………………………………………….....40
Example 3.3 Nocturne No.1, mm. 4-7..…………………………………………….........42
iv

Example 3.10 Nocturne No.1, mm. 16-19…………………………………………….....47
Example 3.15 Nocturne No.2, m.1…………………………………………………….....50
Example 3.16 Nocturne No.2, mm. 4-5……………………………………………….....51
v

Example 3.29 Nocturne No.5, mm. 46-50.……...…………………………………….....62
vi

LIST OF TABLES
Table 2.1 Huit Nocturnes: Composition Year and Dedication…………………………24
Table 3.1 Nocturne No.1: Structure………………………….…………………………41
Table 4.1 Huit Nocturnes: Forms and Division of Sections……………………………76
vii

LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.1 The Carillon at The Royal Carillon School……….…………………………30
Figure 2.2 The Keyboard and Pedals of a Carillon….……….…………………………30
viii

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) first came to attention as a composer in December
1917 after the premiere of his work Rhapsodie nègre, for baritone, piano, string quartet,
flute, and clarinet. The young composer was only eighteen years old and had been taking
piano lessons with Ricardo Viñes for a mere two years. He was not formally trained as a
composer but later took composition lessons with Charles Koechlin. His piano teacher,
Ricardo Viñes, was a very important figure in Poulenc’s life. Viñes was not only his
teacher, but also a mentor and friend. It was through him that Poulenc met Erik Satie and
Georges Auric, two well-known French musicians who later became influential in
Poulenc’s compositional development. Although he is mostly known for his vocal works,
Poulenc composed works for solo piano, two pianos, and chamber ensemble, as well as
orchestral, vocal, and ballet scores. A pianist himself, Poulenc contributed substantially
to the instrument’s literature. His compositions for piano include twenty-five works for
solo piano, a sonata for four hands, and five works for two pianos.1
Although Francis Poulenc is one of the major composers of the twentieth century,
very few scholarly writings about his works exist. In the past forty-five years, there have
been five dissertations written about his piano works.2 None of these dissertations offers
in-depth information about the Huit Nocturnes pour piano.
1
Myriam Chimènes and Roger Nichols. "Poulenc, Francis." In rove Music Online. Oxford Music
Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/22202 (accessed November 9,
2010).
2 Elizabeth Ann Laufers, “Francis Poulenc’s Use of Counterpoint in Chamber and Piano Music,
1917- 1925” (M.M. thesis., University of Missouri, Kansas City, 2004).; Jon Ray Nelson, “The Piano
Music of Francis Poulenc” (Ph.D. diss., University of Washington, 1978).; David Conley McKinney, “The
Influence of Parisian Popular Entertainment on the Piano Works of Eric Satie and Francis Poulenc” (DMA
diss., University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 1994).; Edwin Philip Romain, “A Study of Francis
Poulenc’s ‘Fifteen Improvisations for Piano Solo’” (DMA diss., University of Southern Mississippi,
1
2
Despite the number of compositions Poulenc wrote for piano, only a few are
known and performed, including Trois mouvements perpétuels (1918) and Promenades
(1921). It is unfortunate that pianists rarely consider the works of Francis Poulenc as
standard repertoire. Moreover, these works have rarely been utilized as pedagogical tools
for piano students. Among these neglected solo piano works are Huit Nocturnes,
composed in the period from 1929 through 1938. There are several reasons for this
present situation, among which are the limited number of recordings of these pieces
available in the market, the works’ unusually challenging piano writing, and the fact that
Poulenc’s music demands a high level of musical sophistication and maturity with
regards to understanding and interpretation.
Although scholars acknowledge the significance of Poulenc’s contributions to the
piano literature and have done in-depth research on his piano works, there are no
scholarly writings available devoted solely to the Nocturnes. In previous years, scholars
have researched Poulenc’s piano music in general but rarely in detail. For instance, Jon
Nelson’s dissertation, “The Piano Music of Francis Poulenc,” discusses the piano music
of Poulenc in general, providing only a bit of information about each work. All other
scholarly writings focus more on Poulenc’s compositional features in general or
important elements of his style in specific works, such as Elizabeth Laufer’s thesis
1978).; Linda Pruitt Stutzenberger, “The Published Solo Piano Works of Francis Poulenc: A Performance
Tape with Commentary” (DMA diss., University of Maryland, 1979).

3
“Francis Poulenc’s Use of Counterpoint in Chamber and Piano Music, 1917- 1925,” and
Kent Werner’s dissertation “The Harmonic Style of Francis Poulenc.”3
The present study will explore Poulenc’s Nocturnes in detail, focusing on the
performance elements. The Nocturnes make a suitable model for this study because they
are one of Poulenc’s most representative works, according to his biographer Wilfrid
Mellers.4 The set consists of eight pieces, which each is unique. The Nocturnes are
usually performed as a cycle although they were composed within a span of nine years
(1929- 1938). Since the Nocturnes are a representative work, a performance guide will
provide pianists with insights to other Poulenc piano works. Therefore, it is clear that this
study is needed because not only does it consist of valuable material for pianists who are
studying Poulenc’s piano works, but also contributes additional scholarly sources on his
piano works since there are few available.
The objectives of this study are: 1) to provide a performance guide for pianists
who are exploring Poulenc’s piano works, specifically directed at, but not limited to Huit
Nocturnes and 2) to promote awareness of Poulenc’s piano works. In order to achieve
these objectives, Huit Nocturnes will be explored historically and musically.
3
Nelson.; Laufers.; Kent Warren Werner, “The Harmonic Style of Francis Poulenc” (Ph.D. diss.,
University of Iowa, 1966).
4
Wilfrid Mellers, Francis Poulenc (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 40.

4
LITERATURE REVIEW
Although Poulenc’s contribution to keyboard literature is substantial, a scholarly
work focused on his Nocturnes is yet to be produced. There are several dissertations that
discuss his piano works in a broad scope. Some of these studies mention Nocturnes but
none discuss all in detail. There are only a small number of books written on Poulenc’s
life, his compositional styles, and cultural influences on his music. This literature review
is divided into two categories: 1) historical background, which includes Poulenc
biographies and cultural influences, and 2) music analysis and interpretational guides.
Historical Background
Henri Hell’s book titled Francis Poulenc: Musicien Français was the first
biography published on the composer and remains one of the few comprehensive sources
of Poulenc’s biographical information. 5 This book discusses Poulenc’s life but it does not
discuss his works in too much detail. It consists of five chapters; the first four chapters
are arranged chronologically according to the years his works were composed. Hell only
dedicated one paragraph in chapter two to the Nocturnes, simply mentioning that in his
opinion, the best of the set are the first, fourth, seventh, and eighth. In the last chapter of
this book, Hell describes Poulenc’s compositional styles.
In 1996, Benjamin Ivry wrote a book titled Francis Poulenc. The book was
published in 1996 as part of the set 20th Century Composers. Ivry’s book offers detailed
information about the composer’s life. The book is similar to Hell’s in terms of content.
5
Henri Hell, Francis Poulenc: Musicien Français, trans. by Edward Lockspeiser. (New York:
Grove, 1959).

5
The notable difference is that Ivry’s book was written and published long after Poulenc’s
death while Hell’s book was published before the composer’s death. Therefore, Ivry’s
book contains information about Poulenc’s life after 1959, which Hell’s book does not
have. The book consists of eight chapters that are arranged chronologically. Each chapter
discusses Poulenc’s life and his compositions.6
A more recent and in-depth biographical source is Carl Schmidt’s book
Entrancing Muse: A Documented Biography of Francis Poulenc.7 Published in 2001, the
book is divided into fourteen chapters arranged chronologically. It includes detailed
discussion about Poulenc’s life and music, including his sexuality, relationships, also
brief historical background and description of every published work by the composer.
The content of this book includes Poulenc’s translated letters, photographs and a catalog
of published and unpublished dissertations on Poulenc.
The Gallic Muse, a book written by Laurence Davies, discusses six French
composers: Fauré, Duparc, Debussy, Satie, Ravel, and Poulenc.8 No musical analysis or
examples on any of these composers is provided. Instead, Davies writes about their lives
as composers and provides general information on their works.
Other scholarly works on Francis Poulenc discuss cultural influences on his
works. For instance, Daniel Weiser’s dissertation, “The Visual Stimulus: The Influence
of Visual Arts on the Musical Compositions of Emmanuel Chabrier, Erik Satie, and
Francis Poulenc,” discusses the influence of paintings on those composers’ works. The
6
Benjamin Ivry, Francis Poulenc. (London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1996).
7
Carl Schmidt, Entrancing Muse: A Documented Biography of Francis Poulenc. (Hillsdale, NY:
Pendragon, 2001).
8 Laurence Davies, The Gallic Muse. (London, J.M. Dent & Sons: 1967).

6
study is divided into three chapters; each chapter is devoted to a composer.9 Another
dissertation, “The Influence of Parisian Popular Entertainment on the Piano Works of
Erik Satie and Francis Poulenc,” by David McKinney, discusses the influence of cabaret
music, café concerts, and music hall styles on both composers.10
Analytical and Interpretational Guides
The most important scholarly source for Poulenc’s harmonic style is Kent
Werner’s dissertation “The Harmonic Style of Francis Poulenc.”11 Werner provides an
array of different approaches in analyzing Poulenc’s works such as combining
Schenkerian technique and a Muellerian-tone-pillars approach. Though the study includes
an extensive scope of Poulenc’s harmonic vocabulary, Werner provides only segments of
each work, leaving the rest of each work unexplored harmonically. Despite including a
significant number of Poulenc’s works, he only provides analyses for three of his piano
works: Trois Mouvements perpétuels (1918), Trois Pièces (1928), and Les Soirées de
Nazelles (1936). He opted for those three works, composed about a decade apart, to
represent the progress of Poulenc’s stylistic development.
Linda Stutzenberger’s dissertation, “The Published Solo Piano Works of Francis
Poulenc: A Performance Tape with Commentary,” is a descriptive catalog of Poulenc’s
9
Daniel Weiser, “The Visual Stimulus: The Influence of Visual Arts on the Musical Compositions
of Emmanuel Chabrier, Erik Satie, and Francis Poulenc” (DMA diss., Johns Hopkins University, 1998).
10
Daniel McKinney, “The Influence of Parisian Popular Entertainment on the Piano Works of
Erik Satie and Francis Poulenc” (DMA diss., University of North Carolina, Greensboro, 1994).
11
Werner.

7
published piano works.12 Stutzenberger selected a number of solo piano pieces, including
Mouvement pérpetuels, Promenades, Nocturnes, Intermezzo, and Les soirées de Nazelles,
to be discussed. The study does not include an elaborate analysis of the pieces
structurally or harmonically, but Stutzenberger provides brief background information
and unique characteristics for each piece. The second part of this study focuses on the
performance issues of these works, which include pedaling and tempo.
Wilfrid Mellers noted that his book Francis Poulenc could not compete with
Henri Hell’s standard biography of Poulenc and Keith Daniel’s study of the composer’s
artistic development. Instead of providing a complete biography, Mellers wrote in the
preface of his book, “It rather attempts to discover Poulenc’s heart by way of
commentary on a number of works that seem to me to be not only representative, but also
good.”13 Among the works Mellers selected are the Nocturnes. He does not provide
detailed analysis and historical background on them, however, he briefly discusses the
first, second, third, and fourth Nocturnes.
Jon Nelson’s dissertation, “The Piano Music of Francis Poulenc,” is a survey of
all his piano works including solo and chamber music works.14 The study is divided into
eleven chapters with the first chapter devoted to Poulenc’s biography and the last chapter
devoted to a discussion of Poulenc’s style. The remaining chapters talk about his piano
works. Nelson categorizes Poulenc’s piano works according to genre and selects a
number of works in each genre. In his study, he provides a brief history of each work and
12
Linda Pruitt Stutzenberger, “The Published Solo Piano Works of Francis Poulenc: A
Performance Tape with Commentary” (DMA diss., University of Maryland, 1979).
13
Mellers, v.
14 Nelson.

8
analyzes them structurally. Despite the extensive information about Poulenc’s piano
works in Nelson’s study, there is no section devoted to Nocturnes.
Although not directly related to the subject of this study, Edwin Romain’s “A
Study of Francis Poulenc’s Fifteen Improvisations for Piano Solo” is an excellent
model.15 Romain divides his study into three chapters: the first chapter discusses
Poulenc’s musical style, the second analyzes individual improvisations, and the third
focuses on performance issues. Romain’s study provides an exemplary model for this
performance guide.
With the literature review complete, it is concluded that a scholarly work that is
focused solely on Poulenc’s Nocturnes is non-existent. A number of dissertations, both
published and unpublished, discuss Poulenc’s piano works. Some of them include
discussions on the Nocturnes, but not in as detailed manner as this study will cover.
METHODOLOGY AND OUTLINE OF ESSAY
The subject of this study is limited to Huit Nocturnes for two reasons. Firstly,
they provide a wide array of Poulenc’s compositional characteristics that makes them
suitably representative for his piano music and a perfect model for a performance guide
without needing to cover a large number of Poulenc’s piano works. Secondly, Huit
Nocturnes is among Poulenc’s most rarely performed piano works. By focusing the
15
Edwin Romain, “A Study of Francis Poulenc’s Fifteen Improvisations for Piano Solo” (DMA
diss., University of Southern Mississippi, 1978).

9
subject to solely these pieces, this study will yield more detailed information and
performance suggestions.16
As mentioned earlier in this essay, the objectives of this study are: 1) to provide a
performance guide for pianists who are exploring Poulenc’s piano works, specifically
directed at, but not limited to Huit Nocturnes and 2) to promote awareness and help
eliminate the undeserved neglect for Poulenc’s piano works. In order to achieve these
goals, Huit Nocturnes will be explored historically and musically.
Due to the nature of this study, which is heavily focused on performance issues,
harmonic and structural analysis of Huit Nocturnes will be provided primarily as an aid
for resolving performance issues. In instances where harmonic analysis is necessary, both
Keith Daniel’s book and Roman numeral analysis along with additional methods
suggested by Kent Werner’s study (Schenkerian technique and Mueller’s tone pillars
approach) may be utilized. Werner also discusses numerous harmonic relationships found
in Poulenc’s works such as root movements and types of cadences. Despite being non-
traditional, some of Poulenc’s music can be analyzed with traditional Roman numeral
analysis. Ned Rorem described Poulenc’s interesting harmonic style:
Take Chopin’s dominant sevenths, Ravel’s major sevenths, Fauré’s plain triads,
Debussy’s minor ninths, and Mussorgsky’s augmented fourths. Filter these through
Satie by way of the added sixth chords of vaudeville (which the French call Le Music
Hall), blend in a pint of Couperin to a quart of Stravinsky, and you get the harmony of
Poulenc”.17
The harmonic movement of the opening of the first Nocturne in C major is relatively
straightforward (Example 1.1). The main harmonic changes have been marked in the
16
Mellers, 40.
17
Ned Rorem, “Francis Poulenc,” in A Ned Rorem Reader (New Haven: Yale University Press,
2001), 276.

10
example. Poulenc used traditional diatonic chord progressions with chord extensions to
provide change of color; this is one of his methods to remove his music from traditional
functional harmony.
Example 1.1. Nocturne No.1, mm. 1-7.
Kent Werner describes Poulenc’s music as a diatonic art sprinkled with highly
chromatic and non-harmonic complexities.18 Meanwhile, Keith Daniel notes in his book,
“Poulenc’s harmonic language in his piano music does not differ substantially from that
of his other genres. Functional diatonic harmony is the rule, with numerous free
18
Werner, 31.

11
modulations taking the place of thematic development.”19 The performer ought to be able
to identify the harmonic pillars first in order to recognize the harmonic rhythm. Doing so
will help the performer to identify a suitable way of phrasing and pedaling and
distinguish between the main musical materials and embellishments. This study will
discuss the harmonic style of Huit Nocturnes when it is sufficient to help performers.
However, it is not the goal of this study to provide detailed harmonic analysis.
Poulenc’s style often features “interruption of cadences,” which means he often
does not resolve to a cadence but diverts the resolution to a different chord. In Example
2.1, measure 17 is cut into only one beat, leaving out the expected resolution in the
melody of F to E and jumping to a surprising D-major chord with an F-sharp in the
melody. This requires maturity from the performer to be able to switch to a completely
different mood. For further exploration of Poulenc’s harmonic style in his other works,
Werner’s study is an excellent source of consultation.
Performance issues to be addressed in this study are tempo, technical challenges,
and pedal usage. Poulenc’s music requires agility to accommodate peculiar shifts and
positions on the keyboard. He was highly particular with regards to tempo and the use of
pedal. In fact, he almost always indicated a specific tempo and pedal markings in his
music.
19
Keith W. Daniel, Francis Poulenc: His Artistic Development and Musical Style (Ann Arbor,
Michigan: UMI Research Press, 1982), 168.

12
Daniel stated that Poulenc learned how to maximize the use of pedals from Viñes and it
became a trademark of not only his performing style, but also an important characteristic
of his piano compositions.20 In an interview with Claude Rostand, Poulenc went as far as
saying:
As for pedal usage, it is the great secret of my piano music (and often its true drama!).
One can never use enough pedal, you hear me! Never enough! Never enough!
Sometimes, when I hear certain pianists playing my works, I want to yell at them:
‘Add more butter to the sauce! What is this, playing on a diet?’”21
20
Daniel, 10.
21
“Quant à l’usage des pédales, c’est le grand secret de ma musique de piano (et souvent son vrai
drame!). Onne mettra jamais assez de pédale, vous m’entendez ! jamais assez ! jamais assez ! Parfois,
lorsque j’entends certains pianistes m’interpréter, j’ai envie de leur crier: ‘Mettez du beurre dans la sauce !
Qu’est-ce que c’est que ce jeu de régime!” Francis Poulenc and Claude Rostand, Entretiens avec Claude
Rostand (Paris: R. Juilliard, 1954), 33.

13
Although Poulenc fancied abundant use of pedal, one must be able to control the
pedal so as not to overpower the music, thus retaining its clarity. The importance of pedal
usage is not often a priority of piano students, when in fact it is as important as learning
how to articulate. Because some of Poulenc’s piano works do not require a high level of
virtuosity - for example, the Mouvement perpétuels - they are suitable as teaching tools
for the aspect of pedaling.
To help solve the technical challenges in these pieces, fingering suggestions will
be provided. Many of the musical materials Poulenc used in Huit Nocturnes are found in
his other solo piano and chamber music works. Identifying them allows pianists to utilize
the suggested approach to phrasing and fingerings in this study with his other pieces as
well. For instance, in the first Nocturne in C major, the melody line in mm. 39-40
(Example 1.3) is a diminution of the piano solo in mm. 92-95 of the third movement of
his Sextet (Example 1.4), at exactly a minor third above.
Example 1.3. Nocturne No.1,mm. 39-42.

14
Example 1.4. Sextet: III. Finale, mm. 90-95.
When it comes to determining interpretation, it is crucial to be familiar with
aspects surrounding the music, such as trends at the time when it was composed,
historical background and influences from other composers. One must be aware of all
those aspects to be able to understand it. A way to be acquainted with Poulenc besides
reading his biography is reading his letters. He wrote many letters to his colleagues, in
which he often stated his thoughts about his own works. Another way is to research the
dedicatees of his works and their relationships with the composer since Poulenc dedicated
most of his Huit Nocturnes to different people. Information on these dedicatees and their
relationship with Poulenc at the time Huit Nocturnes was composed will shed some light
on the story behind each of these pieces.
This essay starts with an introductory chapter that describes the issues, purpose,
and methodology of this study. The second chapter consists of a brief biography of
Francis Poulenc and historical background on Huit Nocturnes. The third chapter has eight
subchapters, one for each nocturne. In each subchapter, performance related issues are
discussed in detail. Brief structural and harmonic analysis are provided solely to
supplement the performance issues discussed of each piece. Finally, a brief concluding
chapter will complete this study

CHAPTER 2
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
In the preface of his book titled Francis Poulenc, Henri Hell describes Francis
Poulenc as “… one of the most endearing survivals in the golden decline of our musical
civilization. Paradox, conundrums and spoof are his natural attributes. This intelligent
French musician is also a child-like primitive, the last of the lyrical composers, a remote
offspring of Franz Schubert.”22 Poulenc can certainly be named an offspring of Schubert
not only because of his gift of melody, but also because Schubert’s Winterreise played a
big role in his decision to become a composer.
Francis Poulenc was born to a devout Catholic father, Emile Poulenc, who was
also a successful businessman. Both his father and uncle ran a pharmaceutical company
named Rhône-Poulenc. The company was one of the biggest of its kind in 1928. Today,
after going through several acquisitions, the company is named Sanofi, the world’s
fourth-largest pharmaceutical company. Since he was a child, Poulenc enjoyed a
luxurious lifestyle. His father sent him to Catholic schools, which later played a big role
in his religious choral works. His mother, Jenny Royer, who was an amateur pianist,
introduced her son to the arts. When growing up, he often heard her playing Mozart,
Chopin, Schubert, and Schumann. He then began his own piano lessons at the age of five
with Mademoiselle Boutet de Monvel, who was a niece of the famous composer César
Franck. Not long after, Francis discovered Debussy’s Danses sacrée et profane for harp
and string orchestra. This work sparked his love for the intriguing ninth chords that
22
Hell, ix.
15
16
Debussy often used. Poulenc was not able to play any of Debussy’s works on the piano
until much later, but his love for Debussy’s music continued to develop and later found
its way into his own style of composition.
1901 was an important year for Poulenc. Terrible flooding had caused the whole
family to take refuge in a nearby city called Fountainebleu where young Francis first
came across Schubert’s Winterreise in a local music shop. His favorite of the cycle was
Die Nebensonnen, the song that inspired his lyricism and influenced one of his works, Le
Bestiaire. Aside from Debussy and Schubert, another composer greatly influenced young
Poulenc was Igor Stravinsky. In 1914, after the performance of Le Sacre du printemps at
the Casino de Paris, Poulenc began to admire Stravinsky’s works.
Shortly after, Poulenc met the most important person in his musical career,
Ricardo Viñes. Viñes was a prominent virtuoso pianist who was originally from Spain.
Poulenc began taking piano lessons from him and Viñes also taught him some theory and
music literature. In his own words, Poulenc said about Viñes, “I owe to him the entire
beginning of my career, not only for the understanding of the piano that he gave me, but
for the effective way in which he supported my first [compositional] efforts.”23 Another
reason why Viñes was important for Poulenc was because he introduced the young
composer to people such as Georges Auric, Igor Stravinsky, and Erik Satie. These three
composers further influenced Poulenc’s musical style. French pianist Alfred Cortot
23
In Lucien Chevallier, “Un entretien avec… Francis Poulenc,” Le Guide du concert, No. 30 (26
April 1929), 856. “C’est à lui que je dois tout le début de ma carrière, non seulement par la conscience qu’il
m’a donné du piano, mais encore par la façon effective don’t il a secondé mes premiers efforts.”

17
mentioned that Poulenc’s Mouvements perpétuels were “reflections of the ironical
outlook of Satie adapted to the sensitive standards of the current intellectual circles.”24
Jeanne Bathori was another prominent musician who Viñes had introduced to
Poulenc. Poulenc owed the success of his Rapsodie négre premiere to Bathori, as it was
she who organized the performance at Théåtre du Vieux-Colombier. Bathori also
introduced Poulenc to Germaine Tailleferre, Louis Durey, and Arthur Honegger.
Together with Darius Milhaud and Georges Auric, these six composers were named Les
Six. Bathori was one of the strongest supporters of Les Six.
Poulenc’s very first compositions were piano pieces. His Preludes, written in
1917, are very complex and written on three or four staves. Poulenc himself was not
satisfied with this work. Later, he called these pieces inferior copies of Debussy and
Stravinsky. That same year, he wrote Rapsodie négre, which marked his break-through as
a composer. He was only eighteen years old at the time and had not taken a composition
lesson. The instrumentation for the piece is rather unique: baritone, piano, string quartet,
flute, and clarinet. The baritone part was so difficult that the singer refused to perform at
the last minute during the premiere. Poulenc had to step in and sing the part.
The next few years, from 1918-1921, Poulenc was drafted into the military where
he kept writing during this service period. Famous for his songs, Poulenc wrote Le
Bestiaire in 1919, a song cycle with six songs set to poems by Guillaume Apollinaire.
This cycle is the first of many song cycles Poulenc wrote. His love for poetry inspired
many of his song cycles. Another significant work produced during that period is
Mouvements perpétuels, Poulenc’s most famous piece for piano. This work was written
24
Hell, 4.

18
in 1918 and premiered by Viñes in 1919 at one of a series of concerts called Lyre et
Palette. Henri Hell said of the pieces, “The qualities of these short pieces are self-evident.
Spontaneous and most attractively melodious, they display, in the manner of Satie, a
genre of the eighteenth-century harpsichord composers tastefully spiced with the still new
twentieth-century notions of dissonance.”25
Poulenc became more popular as he was named one of Les Six along with Darius
Milhaud, Georges Auric, Germaine Tailleferre, Louis Durey, and Arthur Honegger. The
six young French composers became Les Six not because of their united ideology or style,
but because of French journalist Henri Collet. Collet wrote two articles in Comoedia,
“Les cinq Russes, les six Français et M. Satie” and “Les Six” after attending one of the
concerts organized by cellist Félix Delgrange. Darius Milhaud stated that Collet chose the
name merely because they were friends and without considering their individually
different ideas. Interestingly, a Poulenc scholar, George Keck, thought that they shared
something important. He stated in his book, “The six young composers shared the spirit
of a generation facing a new mechanistic world of machines and motion, of
experimentation, of music hall and American jazz. They also shared irreverence for the
artistic conventions of the time. These forces shaped their music and gave them validity
as a group.”26 The circumstances around the birth of Les Six was the driving force that
kept the group together, even if only for a short period of time. The six young composers
of the group became close friends, performed their new works in the same concerts, and
published a journal called Le Coq. In 1921, a joint work by Les Six was born. This was
25
Hell, 8.
26
George Keck, Francis Poulenc: A Bio-Bibliography (Westport: Greenwood Press, 1990), 3.

19
Les Mariés de la Tour Eiffel, produced by the Swedish Ballet of Rolf de Maré.
Unfortunately, the premiere of this joint work was a disaster that marked the end of Les
Six as a group.
When he was discharged from military service in 1921, Poulenc took composition
lessons with Charles Koechlin until 1924 on the recommendation of Darius Milhaud.
Koechlin was his first and only composition teacher. In the next years, Poulenc’s output
included works of many genres: songs, chamber music works, opera, ballet, and various
piano works. Among those works were two distinctive ones composed in 1929 that
boosted Poulenc’s popularity beyond Paris: Concert champêtre and Aubade. Concert
champêtre was written for distinguished harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. Poulenc
dedicated the piece to Madame Landowska, who premiered the piece on May 3, 1929.
Concert champêtre and Manuel Falla’s El Retablo de Maese Pedro are the most
remarkable of the modern works for harpshichord.27 Aubade is what Poulenc called an
amphibious work, a choreographic concerto for a dancer, pianist, and a chamber
orchestra of eighteen instruments.28 Vicomte and Vicomtesse de Noailles, who
commissioned the piece, initially asked Poulenc to write a ballet for an event at their
Paris home but the composer suggested a choreographic concerto instead. Aubade was
the first choreographic concerto ever introduced and remains the only one of its kind.
In the next decade, Poulenc wrote Huit Nocturnes. The eight pieces were written
sporadically from 1929-1938. More discussion about the historical background of Huit
Nocturnes is to follow on the next subchapter. During this time, there were two important
27
Hell, 36.
28
Ibid., 37.

20
events in Poulenc’s life: the beginning of a lifelong friendship with singer Pierre Bernac
(1935), for whom Poulenc had written many songs, and the death of Poulenc’s close
friend, Pierre-Octave Ferroud in 1936. The death of Ferroud brought Poulenc back to his
Catholic roots and he started composing more religious choral works. More detailed
information about Poulenc’s life during the composition of Huit Nocturnes is laid out in
the next subchapter.
In 1939, World War II began and France was occupied by Germany. Poulenc did
not produce new works in the beginning of the war. Ivry mentioned in his book that
Poulenc was very anxiously waiting to be called up for military service and he was too
apprehensive to write music.29 Instead, in this period that Hell called “period of
consolidation”, Poulenc spent his time revising and perfecting old works, among which
are his Sextet for piano and wind instruments and Les Biches. Poulenc spent most of his
time in Noizay to avoid the sight of German soldiers in occupied Paris. His closest
friends and advisers, such as Darius Milhaud and Wanda Landowska, had been forced
into exile because of their Jewish heritage. Poulenc wrote a number of works towards the
end of the war, including a ballet, his first opera Les Mamelles de Tirésias, incidental
music for L’histoire de Babar, and several sets of songs. Les Mamelles de Tirésias was
premiered in 1947 by soprano Denise Duval, who then became Poulenc’s favorite female
interpreter of his works.
World War II ended officially in 1945. In the same year, Poulenc and Bernac gave
song recitals in Wigmore Hall, London and in 1948 they left for their first American tour.
The tour was successful and the duo returned to Paris after two months performing
29
Ivry, 116.

21
around the United States. In the same year, The Boston Symphony Orchestra
commissioned Poulenc to write Piano Concerto, premiered in Boston in January 1950 by
the composer and conducted by Charles Münch. The Piano Concerto was dedicated to
Denise Duval and Raymond Destouches, with whom Poulenc had intimate relationships
with for several years.30
During the next few years, Poulenc’s physical and psychological conditions were
declining. Ivry noted in his book that Poulenc’s “preferred nocturnal prowl was searching
among Parisian pissoirs for sexual adventure,” might have been one of the reasons of his
worsening health.31 Claude Rostand, a friend of Poulenc’s, coined the term “le moine et
le voyou” (“half monk, half thug”) to describe Poulenc in his July 1950 article in Paris-
Presse.32 In 1952, Poulenc started writing his Sonata for Two Piano, which is very
somber in mood.
The year after, he started working on his opera masterpiece Dialogue des
Carmélites, which was based on Georges Bernanos’ screenplay of the same name. The
story is about Carmélite nuns being beheaded during the French Revolutionary era.
Poulenc went through an emotionally difficult time when he was writing this opera. His
relationship with Lucien Roubert was not going well and he developed what he had
thought to be stomach cancer (this later was proven untrue by medical tests). He finally
finished the work in 1956 and it was premiered at La Scala in Milan in 1957.
In 1957, Poulenc had a new lover named Louis Gautier. His relationship with this
young blond man was a boost to his career. His output during this period is abundant.
30
Ibid., 152.
31
Ibid., 153.
32
Ibid., 156.

22
Among his works composed in his final years are his Sonata for Flute and Piano, Elégie
for horn and piano, a song cycle Le Travail du peintre, one act opera La Voix humaine,
Gloria for soprano, chorus, and orchestra, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, and Sonata for
Oboe and Piano. Soon after he finished the Sonata for oboe and piano, Poulenc suffered
a heart attack in his home in Paris. Francis Poulenc passed away suddenly on January 30,
1963. He left no unfinished works.
HUIT NOCTURNES (1929-1938): A HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Keith Daniel categorized Poulenc’s piano works into three periods based on style
characteristics: The first period, 1916-1921, shows “bare, linear simplicity, modality,
polytonality, and ‘wrong note’ dissonance.” The second period, 1922-1937, is marked by
“virtuosic bravura; all the traditional capabilities of the piano are exploited.” The last
period is 1940-1959 where one can see strong lyricism and less virtuosic approach. The
Nocturnes fall into the second period based on Daniel’s observation, which is the period
of Poulenc’s greatest pianistic failures and his least personal, most superficial works.33
The set consists of eight nocturnes, each of which is unique. Although these eight
pieces were written in the span of a decade, they function well as a cycle and are usually
performed as one. Wilfrid Mellers stated in his book that Huit Nocturnes is Poulenc’s
most subtly representative piano work of the 1930s. He continued by stating, “These
nocturnes are not romantic tone-poems like Chopin’s or Fauré’s, but are rather night-
scenes, sound-images of both public and private events.”34
33
Daniel, 170.
34
Mellers, 40.

23
During the period when Poulenc composed these pieces, he was living half the
time in Paris and the other half in Noizay. Keith Daniel talked about how Poulenc’s
personality and style evolved significantly, resulting in a much mature compositional
style. Daniel believed that Poulenc spent some time self-contemplating and kept going
back to composing his most familiar genre of music, piano music. His piano music output
during 1932-1934 consists of mostly light-hearted works. However, it is quite an
evolution from his earlier vocal music style.35
One way to unfold the background of Huit Nocturnes is to gather information and
get acquainted with the dedicatees of each nocturne. Doing so will provide more insights
about Poulenc’s life at the time, the people around him, and circumstantial influences
during the time of composition. Table 2.1 shows Huit Nocturnes, year of composition,
and to whom it was dedicated. Since the next chapter will focus extensively on dissecting
and analyzing each nocturne, it is sufficient to provide only the overview of these works
in the present chapter.
Nocturne No. 1: C major
The first Nocturne was dedicated to Suzette Chanlaire. The printed score of the
Nocturne indicates that the piece was written in 1929. However, the manuscript says year
of composition is 1930. The work was published in 1931. One of Poulenc’s connections
to Suzette Chanlaire is a gentleman named Richard Chanlaire.
35
Daniel, 35.

24
Table 2.1: Huit Nocturnes. Composition Year and Dedication.
Nocturne Composition Year Dedication
1. C major 1929 Suzette Chanlaire
2. A major “Bal de jeunes filles” 1933 Janine Salles
3. F major “Les Cloches de Malines” 1934 Paul Collaer
4. C minor “Bal phantom” 1934 Julien Green
5. D minor “Phalènes” 1934 Jean- Michel Frank
6. G major 1934 Waldemar Strenger
7. E♭major 1935 Fred Timar
8. G major “pour servir de coda au cycle” 1938 No dedication
________________________________________________________________________
Suzette was the wife of Richard’s brother, Renè. Richard Chanlaire was Poulenc’s lover.
Another connection is Poulenc’s alleged daughter, Marie-Ange who was born in 1946.
Her mother, known only as “Freddy” or Frederique, was a cousin of Suzette Chanlaire.
In November 1929, Poulenc gave Suzette Chanlaire a sketch of his choreographic
concerto Aubade with a note “… because this work is a wound, and that wounded
yourself you knew, better than anyone, how to heal my broken heart…”36 Based on the
time frame, it is clear that the dedication to Suzette Chanlaire was related to Poulenc’s
relationship with her brother-in-law, Richard Chanlaire.
One of the reasons for Poulenc’s devastation was the death of Raymonde
Linossier. Linossier, a very good friend since childhood, was slowly slipping away from
36
Carl Schmidt, The Music of Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): A Catalogue (Oxford: Clarendon
Press 1995,) FP51,161.

25
him. She was said to be the only woman he intended to marry. In a letter to Raymonde’s
sister, Alice Ardoin, dated July 1927, he said, “the longer I live, the more I feel that she
[Linossier] is the only person with whom I would like to live.”37 Poulenc never asked
Linossier to marry him directly. He told Ardoin that he had no sexual interest in Linossier
and she would be free to go to Japan if she wanted to. The marriage proposal was more of
a partnership arrangement. However, Linossier was more interested in oriental studies at
the Musée Guimet than in Francis Poulenc. She was romantically involved with a
Japanese man whom she met while working at the Musée.38 It was also speculated that
Linossier rejected the proposal because she knew about Poulenc’s feelings for Richard
Chanlaire. Raymonde Linossier died in January of 1930, leaving Poulenc devastated.
Another reason for Poulenc’s melancholy was his affair with painter Richard
Chanlaire. Before Linossier’s death, in early 1929, Poulenc admitted to be in love with
the painter and that he was his great love. During this time, Poulenc was in the midst of
composing Concert champêtre for Wanda Landowska. Landowska was a counselor
figure to Poulenc; she was supportive of his relationship with Chanlaire. When the piece
was finished, Poulenc sent a copy of the score to Chanlaire with a note:
You have changed my life, you are the sunshine of my thirty years, a reason for living
and working… May this concerto always remind you of the sweet evenings at St-Leu,
the brilliant and so kind Wanda, the orchestra rehearsals at Pleyel’s, in short the real
source of our admirable tenderness.39
No correspondence between Poulenc and Suzette Chanlaire was found during this
research except for the notes he sent her with the sketch of Aubade. In Sidney Buckland’s
37
Letter to Alice Ardoin ,21 July 1928; Poulenc, Francis Poulenc: Correspondence 1910-1963,
ed. with annotations by Myriam Chimènes (Paris, Fayard, 1994) , 97-98.
38
Schmidt, Entrancing, 160.
39
Ivry, 68.

26
Selected Correspondences 1915-1963, there was not a single letter from or to Richard
Chanlaire. However, Chanlaire’s name was mentioned in Poulenc’s letters to Milhaud
and Bernac. In his letters to them, Poulenc talked about Chanlaire in a way that a person
talked about his beloved one. 40
The piece starts in a child-like, innocent setting in C major. The distinct feature of
this piece is its coda, where it is obvious that Stravinsky had a strong influence on
Poulenc. The Nocturne is marked Le double plus lent, alternating between 3/4 and 4/4,
with a harmonic progression that begins in E major and ends in an extended chord of C
major (as shown below in Example 2.1). The innocent beginning, complicated middle
section, and the much slower ending might suggest Poulenc’s personal struggle with life
and relationship at the time.
Nocturne No. 2: A major “Bal de jeunes filles”
The second Nocturne was written in 1933 and dedicated to Janine Salles. No
information on Janine Salles could be found in any scholarly published works on
Poulenc. However, from the subtitle of the piece “Dance of young girls,” one can
40
Letter to Pierre Bernac, March 1958; Francis Poulenc: “Echo and Source:”Selected
Correspondence 1915-1963, trans. and ed. Sidney Buckland (London: Victor Gollancz, 1991), 250-251.

27
speculate that Janine Salles was a dancer. The only person with the same last name who
was affiliated with Poulenc was Georges Salles. Janine Salles was most likely related to
Georges. Georges Salles was the grandson of Gustav Eiffel, the architect famous for
Eiffel tower. He became the curator at The Department of Asian Art at The Louvre in
1926. In 1932, Poulenc was busy writing Le Bal masque and completing his Piano
Concerto. He split his time between Noizay and Paris. While in Paris, Poulenc stayed at
Georges Salles’ home in Montmarte.41 While there was no information found regarding
the relationship between Georges Salles and Jeanine Salles, one can only suspect that
they were related due to their shared last name.
The piece starts in 4/4 with a marking of très anime (see Example 2.2). One can
hear a depiction of a ballet-like ambiance in the opening. Mellers describes the opening
in his book by writing, “The dotted-rhythm melody, accompanied with repeated sixteenth
notes in between the melody-notes, inducing a slight giddiness.”42 The ending of this
Nocturne mimics the ending of the previous nocturne. Poulenc marked the last three
measures très lent and ends with an A minor chord (as shown in Example 2.3). The
sudden changes of mood and tempo suggest that Poulenc intended to convey that youth is
not going to last forever and it will someday perish. Mellers stated about the ending of
the second Nocturne, “This is a delicious Poulenc image for the vulnerability of youth,
perhaps even for the vanity of human wishes.”43
41
42
Mellers, 41.
43
Mellers, 42.

28
Example 2.2. Nocturne No.2, m.1.
Example 2.3. Nocturne No. 2, mm. 28-30.
Nocturne No. 3: F major “Les Cloches de Malines”
The third Nocturne was written in 1934 and dedicated do Paul Collaer. Collaer
was a Belgian born musicologist, pianist, and conductor. In 1921, he founded the Pro
Arte concerts in Brussels to promote awareness of contemporary music. Additionally,
he was able to boost the appreciation of contemporary music through his position as
the director of the Flemish music service of Belgian Radio from 1937-1953. Through
the Pro Arte concerts, Collaer had contacts with many musicians, including Francis
Poulenc, Erik Satie, and their peers. His experience as a musician combined with his
contacts with other musicians enabled him to be a superb musicologist, writing books
on music and musicians such as Jean-Sébastian Bach (Brussels, 1936), Darius

29
Milhaud (Antwerp, 1947, 2/1982; Eng. trans., 1988), and La musique modern, 1905-
1955 (Brussels, 1955, 3/1963; Eng. trans., 1961), among others.44
The Nocturne was subtitled Les Cloches de Malines, which means the bells of
Malines. The piece starts with bell-like tune alternating between F and C in irregular
meter (as shown in Example 2.4). In his book, Mellers stated that this Nocturne depicts
a small town square at night without people. He also writes, “One suspects a
programmatic intention; perhaps these frantic clangings warn of some disaster, or
maybe the clock’s works have gone crazy.”45
Malines or Mechelen is Paul Collaer’s hometown. It is situated halfway
between Antwerp and Brussels in Belgium. The city is most known for its carillon
school, The Royal Carillon School “Jef Denyn”, which is the first and largest carillon
school in the world. The subtitle Les Cloches de Malines of Poulenc’s third Nocturne
suggests that the opening of this piece mimics the sound of a carillon. A carillon
44
Godelieve Spiessens and Sylvie Janssens. "Collaer, Paul." In Grove Music Online. Oxford
Music Online. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/06100 (accessed
February 11, 2013).
45
Mellers, 42.

30
consists of 23 bronze bells and is usually housed in a bell tower of a church. It is
played by striking an organ like instrument; a keyboard for the hands and pedals for the
feet.
Figure 2.1 The carillon at The Royal Carillon School
Figure 2.2 The keyboard and pedals of a carillon

31
Nocturne No. 4: C minor “Bal phantôme”
The fourth Nocturne was dedicated to a friend of Poulenc, a French born
American writer, Julien Green. Green was born Julian Hartridge Green in Paris in 1900 to
American parents. His upbringing was very strict and religious. He was raised as a
protestant but later converted into Catholicism two years after his mother’s death. In
1920, his first publisher changed his name from Julian to Julien. Although he was
American, he wrote exclusively in French and was the first non-French national to be
elected to L’Académie française, an organization founded in 1635 that is in charge of
regulating the French language. Most of Green’s works are very much influenced by his
homosexuality and his religious Catholic beliefs. Religion and sexuality, the common
factors that Green and Poulenc shared, were most likely the reasons of the beginning of
their friendship.
The Nocturne itself is prefaced by a passage from Green’s work Le visionnaire
(The Dreamer, 1934):
Not a note of waltz or schottisches lost in the house, so that the patient had his share of
the feast and put his bed dreaming about the good years of his youth."46
From this text, it is clear that the piece was intended to be nostalgic for Green of his
younger days when he was healthy. Julien Green became disabled and bedridden towards
the end of his life.
One can hear the influence of Satie’s Gymnopedie and Gnossienne in this piece.
Its harmony reminds us of Gnosienne No.1 while its spaciousness of Gymnopedie No. 1.
46 “Pas une note des valses ou des schottisches ne se perdait dans toute la maison, si bien que le
malade eut sa part de la fête et put rêver sur son grabat aux bonnes années de sa jeunesse.” Julien Green,
Le Visionnaire (Paris: Fayard, 1994).

32
Mellers suggested that in this piece, we are led by Poulenc through an “old-world,
‘phantom ball’ where the chromatic harmony, sensuously spaced, moves us through a by-
gone-era waltz.”47 Examples 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7 below show how the opening of the fourth
Nocturne compares to Satie’s Gymnopedie and Gnossienne.
Example 2.6. Satie, Gymnopedie No. 1, mm. 1-5.
Example 2.7. Satie: Gnosienne No. 1, mm. 1-4.
47
Mellers, 43.

33
Nocturne No. 5: D minor “Phalènes”
The fifth Nocturne was also written in 1934, dedicated to a French interior
designer, Jean-Michel Frank. Poulenc and Frank were both commissioned by Vicomte
and Vicomtesse de Noailles to provide music and décor for their fête at their Paris home
in 1929. This particular event is when Poulenc wrote Aubade, while Frank created the
décor.48 Jean-Michel Frank (1895-1941) was born to a wealthy family. He started law
school in 1911 but quit when his two older brothers were killed in World War I, followed
by his father’s suicide and his mother’s death in a mental institution soon after. In 1920,
he found himself wealthy because of his family inheritance. Frank was well-known for
his classical proportions, simple ornamentation with enhanced finishes, and Baroque
Revival objects combined with Surrealism. Frank committed suicide in 1941 by jumping
off from a Manhattan apartment building in New York. An example of Frank’s unique
work is a collection of home furniture for elite French label Hermès in 1924, which is
still considered classic and iconic until today.49
This piece is subtitled “Phalènes” (moths). Mellers believes that this piece is a
night-scene to balance the fourth Nocturne’s town square of Malines. He also
hypothesizes that Poulenc wanted to depict the idea that humans are like moths, jitterly
directionless. The beginning is marked Presto misterioso, depicting flickering moths. 50
The opening of the fifth Nocturne is shown below in Example 2.8.
48
49
"Frank, Jean-Michel." In Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press,
http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T029709 (accessed February 18, 2013).
50
Mellers, 43.

34
Example 2.8. Nocturne No.5, mm. 1-2
Nocturne No. 6: G major
The sixth Nocturne was written in 1935 and dedicated to Waldemar Strenger. No
information on Waldemar Strenger could be found in any scholarly published works on
Poulenc. It also does not have a subtitle attached.
Nocturne No. 7: E flat major
The seventh Nocturne was written in 1935 and dedicated to Fred Timar. No
information on Fred Timar could be found in any scholarly published works on Poulenc.
It also does not have a subtitle attached. However, according to Mellers, the tune of this
piece is meant to reintroduce the young dancers from the second Nocturne, who are now
strolling or dancing in a balmy summer night.51 Mellers did not specify a reason why he
believed that the tune is depicting the jeune filles. The two tunes are very different from
each other (Examples 2.9 and 2.10).
51
Ibid.

35
Example 2.9. Nocturne No.2, m.1.
Example 2.10. Nocturne No.7, mm.1-2.
Nocturne No. 8: G major
The last Nocturne was written in 1938 and has no dedication attached. It is
subtitled pour servir de coda au cycle, or “to serve as coda of the cycle.” The ending of
this Nocturne is very similar to the first Nocturne (Examples 2.11 and 2.12).

36

CHAPTER 3
PERFORMANCE GUIDE
Although mostly famous for his vocal works, Poulenc’s primary instrument was
the piano. He started learning the piano at a very young age, first from his mother who
was an amateur pianist. He did not begin to compose until afterhis studies with Ricardo
Viñes, starting with works for the piano. Poulenc’s performing style was very much
influenced by Viñes, preferring “a full, vibrant sound, a strict observance of tempo and
dynamic markings, a liberal deployment of pedal, and a lively, boisterous approach to the
keyboard.”52
The performance guide of each Nocturne provided in this chapter will discuss
four main aspects. The first one is the form of each Nocturne. One of Keith Daniel’s
observations about Poulenc’s piano works is that they are non-developmental, often with
simple ABA or ABA’ form.53 However, that is not always the case for each nocturne.
The harmonic and structural analysis will not be provided in detail, it will only be
provided to aid the performer in terms of determining phrasing and sections in the pieces.
The second aspect, tempo, is almost always the biggest challenge in performance.
Poulenc often provided specific metronome markings and written tempo indications
(such as cédez un peu or pressez un peu). However, it is arguable that his tempo
indications might not always be the most appropriate ones. Poulenc also made it clear
that he despised rubato. He even went as far as saying:
Once a tempo is adopted, never change it on any account until I indicate otherwise.
Never stretch or rush a tempo. That drives me crazy. I would prefer all the wrong notes
52
Daniel, 164.
53
Ibid., 165.
37
38
in the world.54
Therefore, the performer needs to avoid excessive rubato. However, it does not mean that
the Nocturnes must be played straight in tempo all throughout the piece. When it comes
to abiding to metronome markings, Poulenc made it clear that he thought pianists ought
to comply with his indications: “If pianists would have confidence in my metronomic
indications, very meticulously established, much misfortune will be avoided.”55 Despite
Poulenc’s detailed instructions, it is important to note that the composer himself has been
caught making a number of contradictions with his own tempo indications. For example,
after a performance of Sanctus at a rehearsal of the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Poulenc
commented that the piece was performed too fast. The conductor of the choir justified the
tempo with Poulenc’s own metronome marking. “’Oh, that,’ he (Poulenc) said, ‘I made it
that because most choirs always sing too slowly!’”56 Based on the evidence present,
Stutzenberger suggests that Poulenc’s metronome markings “need not always be
scrupulously followed.”57
The third aspect is technical challenges, which consist of mostly voicing. Poulenc
once said:
I would like to persuade interpreters that it is much more difficult to learn the nuances
than the notes of a work. If I find an orchestra unsatisfying it is not because of the
54
“Une fois un tempo adopté, il de faut en changer å aucun prix jusqu’å ce que je l’indique. Ne
jamais allonger ou raccourcir untemps. Cela me rend fou. Je préfère toutes les fausses notes du monde,”
Poulenc, Entretiens, 32-33.
55
“Si les pianistes faisaient confiance å mes mouvements métronomiques, très soigneusement
établis, bien des malheurs seraient évités,” Poulenc, Entretiens, 35.
56
Felix de Nobel, “Memories of Francis Poulenc,” Sonorum Speculum XV (June 1963), 39.
57
Stutzenberger, 31.

39
number of faults they commit but the absence of balance and proportion.58
This statement clearly highlights the importance of voicing in Poulenc’s pieces. All the
voices must be balanced and proportioned. When asked about his piano music, Poulenc
stated, “the arpeggios and accompaniment chords should be in the background most of
the time so that the melody can be heard.”59 Suggestions as to how to achieve this are
discussed for each Nocturne.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, is the pedaling. In Journal de mes melodies,
Poulenc stated that the use of pedals holds a position of cardinal importance in his music.
He then continued, “I must insist once more that my work calls for the almost constant
use of the pedals.”60 In an interview with Claude Rostand, he stated that “one can never
use enough pedal” and that he “often relied on the pedal for realization of a harmonic
passage that could not be rendered in writing.”61
The performance guide, based on these four issues, form, tempo, voicing, and
pedaling, will give the performer helpful information to explore these Nocturnes and
mold them to his or her own artistic interpretation.
58
Poulenc, Journal de més melodies (Diary of My Songs), Bi-lingual edition, trans. Winifred
Radford (London: Victor Gollancz, 1985), 53.
59
“Pour les batteries et les arpègesm on doit les effacer la plupart du temps pour laisser le chant
en dehors,” Poulenc, Entretiens, 33.
60
Poulenc, Journal, 53.
61
“On ne mettra jamais assez de pédale. Dans un movemente rapide, il m’est arrivé parfois de
compter sur la pédale pour realizer, virtuellement, l’harmonie d’un dessin qu’il serait impossible d’écrire,
intégralement, dans ce tempo,” Poulenc, Entretiens, 32-33.

40
NOCTURNE I: C MAJOR
Form
According to Keith Daniel, the first Nocturne is not through-composed because it
is “too long for Poulenc to sustain without a thematic development.”62 Therefore, Daniel
concluded that the form of this Nocturne is a rondo form “by substitution of an unrelated
coda for the final return of the theme.”63 Based on Daniel’s conclusion, the first Nocturne
can be divided into five sections. Each section, except for the coda, is marked with a
restatement of the main melody followed by a transition that leads to the next key. Table
3.1 outlines the structure of the first Nocturne. The first section comprises measures 1-17,
where the main melody is in C major. The second section begins with the main theme in
D major in measure 28 until measure 43. The third section in G major comprises
measures 44-56. The fourth section is the lengthiest, from measures 56-86. It begins with
the main theme restated in A-flat major. Keith Daniel pointed out that the coda (Example
3.1) “is a sequence of dominant-tonic cadences descending by steps of minor third.”64
62
Daniel, 165.
63
Ibid., 166.
64
Ibid., 79.

41
Each transition consists of a series of non-conventional modulations, one of Poulenc’s
distinctive compositional styles. These modulations are often accompanied by very little
or no anticipation, which Poulenc referred to as being able to “pass through a mouse-
hole.”65 An example of the mentioned modulation is shown in Example 3.2.
Table 3.1. Nocturne No.1: Structure.
Section Key Measures

A C major 1-27
A’ D major 28-43
A’’ G major 44-56
A’’’ A♭major 56-86
Coda C major 87-92
Tempo
Poulenc provided plenty of information in the beginning of the piece as of how he
would like it to be performed. The tempo marking says sans trainer, which means
without dragging at half note equals eighty beats per minute. The time signature is cut
time, which makes the left hand arpeggio figures flow quicker. Poulenc also noted on the
bottom of the first line, “l’accompagnement trés estompé et réguliér,” which means the
65
“Mes modulations passent parfois par le trou d’une souris,” Poulenc, Journal, 51.

42
accompaniment is very dimmed and regular. It is clear that Poulenc intended this piece to
flow without too much rubato. Determining the perfect tempo perhaps is the most
challenging part of learning this piece. It must be fast enough that the left hand sounds
like a stream of harmony rather than individual notes, but it must be slow enough that the
right hand melody sounds lyrical. = 80 is moderately fast. In my opinion, the biggest
challenge of performing at this tempo is controlling the left hand figure. The leaps in the
left hand require control of the fingers so there will not be any unwanted accents in the
middle of the passage. A certain amount of time is necessary for the fingers to move and
prepare before playing the keys. At = 80, it is extremely difficult to keep the left hand
part très estompé just like Poulenc suggested. An example of this issue can be seen in
measures 5-6 (Example 3.3), where the left hand leaps from D to F, G to E, and F to A.
For these instances, it is crucial that the thumb arrives early to the designated note and
has ample time to prepare for the attack so unwanted accent can be avoided. Therefore, it
is more appropriate to perform this piece at a slower than Poulenc’s tempo indication.
In order to execute rubato and phrasing tastefully, one ought to consider the form
of the piece and how the sections are divided. For example, Poulenc notated a comma in
measure 23, before the pick up beat to the transitional section (Example 3.4). In that

43
particular measure, the comma is intended to be like a breath. In measure 27 (Example
3.5), Poulenc cuts the measure in half, making it a 1/2 instead of a 2/2, before restating
the melody in D major. There is no comma written in the score, but it is impossible
physically to jump from one register to another in time and still arrive without unwanted
accents in pp. A slight hesitation before measure 28 will provide ample time for the
performer to move quickly and prepare for the melody. It is important to remember that
Poulenc’s melodies are to be treated like were vocal melodies. Rubato should sound
natural, just like the human voice, without a loss of pulse. Instead, the performer needs to
allow space within the music to let the sound breathe and change nuances.

44
Technical Challenges
The melody is placed traditionally on the top voice of the right hand for the entire
piece. The top voice must be highlighted in order to achieve melodic clarity. However,
the challenge of voicing in this piece, and many other pieces with similar configurations,
is to keep the inner voices of the right hand soft but supportive harmonically. One way to
execute this is for the fingers that are playing the top voice to approach the keys a little
bit faster. Therefore, the sound will come out clearer. As for the rest of the fingers, flatten
them out and approach the keys slowly, with an almost massage-like touch. This
technique will dampen the sound yet still providing warmth and harmonic support.
In order to make arpeggios in the left hand très estompé et régulier, it is necessary
to keep the fingers rather superficial, almost brushing through the keyboard instead of
articulating each note. Poulenc believed that arpeggios and repeated chords are to be
played faded and without much articulation.66 The benefits of keeping the fingers on the
surface of the keyboard are: (1) it allows the production of murmuring, faded sound, and
(2) it allows the fingers to move faster to the next note, providing enough preparation
time and avoiding unwanted accents. A similar technique should be employed in the
repeated chords found in measures 36-40 (Example 3.6). The fingers are never to come
up completely to the surface when playing repeated chords therefore the sound can stay
soft and precise at the same time. In measure 36, where the repeated chords are in the left
hand, it is best to avoid using the thumb or the little finger because those two fingers tend
to project more sound. It may be more beneficial to use fingers 2 and 4. In measure 39
(Example 3.7), where the repeated chords are in the lower voices of the right hand, there
66
“le trop d’articulation de certains dessins en batteries ou arpèeges qu’il faut, au contraire, jouer
très estompés,” Poulenc, Entretiens, 32.

45
is no other option but to utilize the thumb and second finger. In order to keep the sound
soft, both fingers playing the repeated chords are to be kept slightly flat.
In the ending where it is marked le double plus lent (Example 3.8), the chords
are to be played calmly with very balanced voicing. The melody no longer exists in this
section; it is merely a progression of harmony. The top voice must remain slightly
highlighted to provide a sense of direction.
Pedaling
In the first Nocturne, Poulenc did not provide pedal marks. One needs to listen
carefully to the harmonic changes in order to place the pedal correctly. There is no
absolute right or wrong as to how the pedal is placed; every artist has a different
perception of sound that they would like to achieve.

46
Poulenc marked rests in the left hand part in the score and no pedal marking. The
harmony needs to be sustained, therefore the pedal should be held for the whole measure
through the rests. A suggestion for pedal usage is shown in Example 3.9.
In some instances, the pedal needs to be held for longer than a measure so the
harmony will be sustained. This happens in measures 16-17 and 18-19 where the bass
note is only an eighth note. A suggestion for pedal usage for this passage is shown in
Example 3.10.
In instances where the harmony changes progressively and many dissonances
are found, the pedal needs to be toned down. One suggestion is to change the pedal
according to the harmony and only use half pedal instead of full pedal. One of these
instances happens in measures 32-35 (Example 3.11).

47
NOCTURNE 2: “Bal de jeune filles”
Form
The second Nocturne can be divided into three major sections. The form of this
nocturne follows the conventional ternary form, A B A’. The first section starts in A
major (measures 1-13). The second section starts with a different mood in what seems to
be C major. However, the key in the second section keeps modulating until finally it goes
back to A major and restates the first melody in measure 24. Similar to the first Nocturne,
the modulations are without preparation, often utilizing chromatic modulation. Example
3.12 below shows one of the instances in the middle section where it modulates from F-
sharp minor to A minor with only utilizing the leading tone of A minor.

48
Poulenc concludes this Nocturne similarly to how he concluded the first
Nocturne, a slow section marked très lent. This time, Poulenc does not end the piece in
its home key, but in its parallel key, A minor. The coda is a “change of perspective,”
according to Mellers. Mellers describes the last three measures (Example 3.13) as “a
delicious Poulenc image for the vulnerability of youth, perhaps even for the vanity of
human wishes.”67

A A major 1-13
B Transitional 14-23
A’ A major- A minor 24-32
67
Mellers, 42.

49
Tempo
The tempo marking indicates très anime (very spirited) and ♩=104. Poulenc does
not put any other tempo indication throughout this short piece until three measures before
the end, which is marked très lent (very slow). However, in the middle section, starting
from measure 16, Poulenc indicates the passage to be played très souple et très allant,
meaning very flexible and dynamic.
In the first section, there is very little room for tempo flexibility. At ♩=104, the
nocturne paints a beautiful picture of young, energetic dancers moving around in a
relatively fast pace. In the second section, the tempo is flexible, but one ought to be
careful not to put too much rubato. The leaps in the melody make it very difficult to
sustain the lively tempo. Example 3.14 shows the leap in the right hand that requires the
performer to have time to prepare playing the next note.
As the texture becomes thicker in measure 19, Poulenc marked avec passion, which can
be translated into even more tempo flexibility. Finally in très lent, one can be as free and
expressive as possible but still without losing the sense of pulse.

50
The melody is single-lined, accompanied by repeated sixteenth chords in both
hands. The rhythmic pattern of the main melody induces “a slight giddiness, both literally
and in the colloquial sense.”68 The main challenge is to voice the melody to ensure that it
sounds crisp and not overpowered by the accompaniment. It is crucial to keep repeated
chords soft but still supportive and playful. This can be achieved by using minimal wrist
movement and keeping the fingers curved so the fingers will not come out of the keys
when they play the same chords. Example 3.15 shows the beginning of this Nocturne.
In measures 5-8, the melody is in a lower register, which creates an even bigger
challenge now that the right hand repeated chords are “in the way.” One solution is to
stretch the melody and physically hold the dotted note for its full value. With that said,
the dotted notes of the melody should be played with stronger fingers such as the thumb
or middle finger.
Example 3.15. Nocturne No.2, m. 1.
68
Mellers, 41.

51
Since the melody in these measures is in a lower register than initially stated, a slight
hesitation followed by a change of color is appropriate. The subtitle “Bal de jeune filles”
should inspire performers to treat the melody as characters. For example, the melody in
the higher register measures 1-4 portrays a young girl. Then, in measures 5-8, an older
character is represented by with the melody in the lower register.
Pedaling
In the beginning of the piece, the marking is dans un halo de pédale, which means
that the melody is to be accompanied in a halo of pedals. The repeated chords are not
meant to sound crisp. Instead, they should sound veiled in order for the melody to stand
out. To achieve the “halo” sound of the pedal without being unclear, the performer can
use half pedal instead of full pedal. In the middle of the piece, measures 16-23, the pedal
needs to be lighter than the previous section because the register is now lower and the
accompaniment parts are thicker. Finally, in the last three measures (mm. 28-30), the
pedal needs to be retained longer to achieve the open, echoic sound. Suggestions for
pedal usage are shown in Example 3.17.

52
NOCTURNE 3: “Les Cloches de Malines”
Form
The third Nocturne is also in ternary form. It can be divided into three major
sections. The first section is comprised of measures 1-42. The middle section, measures
43-67, is completely different from the first and third section. Lastly, the third section is
comprised of measures 68-98. The division of sections in this nocturne is fairly
straightforward because (1) Poulenc placed a long silence in between each section and
changed the meter and the tempo of the second section (2) the musical material in the
second section is very different than the first and the third section is a restatement of the
beginning.
Mellers stated in his book that the unrelated middle section is perhaps “a
programmatic intention.” He explained that when the bell fades, a long silence that
follows “may be ominous, for the cacophony that forms a brief middle section that is
agite and mysterieux, just like Poulenc indicated. After another long silence, the bells
come back and “restore the primal scene.”69
69
Mellers, 42.

53
Table 3.3: Nocturne No.3: Structure.

A F major 1-42
A F major 68-98
Example 3.18. Nocturne No.3, mm. 38-43. First – Second Section.
Example 3.19. Nocturne No.3, mm. 62-67. End of Middle Section.
Tempo
In the first section, Poulenc writes modéré mais sans lenteur, which means
moderately but without slowing down, at ♩=98. The piece begins with oscillations
between F and C, depicting the sounds of bells in a town square. In order to achieve that
nuance, the indicated tempo must be slowed down. At ♩=98, the bells sound too hurried

54
and do not have time to ring. The tempo must remain unchanged throughout the first
section to retain the calm and serene atmosphere, which means there is very little or no
room at all for rubato.
The second section is marked agité et mystérieux, which means agitated and
mysterious, at a much faster tempo, ♩=138. In this section, it is appropriate to speed the
tempo up to the indicated metronome marking. This is because the second section depicts
“slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, things that go bump in the night.”70
After another long silence, the last section returns to its original tempo. Poulenc
also indicates the tempo to be ♩=98. This section should be played like the first section. If
the performer starts the piece faster, then it is appropriate to recall its tempo from the
beginning of the piece. Like the first section, a constant unchanged tempo is important in
order to achieve atmosphere of the town square with tolling bells.
The texture of this piece is relatively simple in its first and last sections. The main
challenge is to keep the left hand stable because of “frequent changes of meter and
rhythmic motives which is often accompanied by shifting accents result in instability.”71
Another layer of challenge added to the left hand part is dynamic markings. Even though
there are accents, the bells need to sound somewhat distant, keeping the dynamic level no
louder than mezzo piano and going as soft as pianissimo. Therefore, the accents must not
sound forceful; instead, the accents should be slightly stronger than the other notes. One
must remember to refrain from accenting every downbeat since the meter keeps changing
70
Mellers, 43.
71
Daniel, 169.

55
and the accents written are not always on the downbeat. One solution is to keep the left
hand fingers completely controlled, slightly flat, and close to the keys.
The middle section is challenging in its own way. The grace notes preceding the
chords in the right hand and the chords themselves can be awkward to play. For example,
in measure 44, the second chord’s largest interval is a minor tenth, which is farther than a
typical reach. In order to play the chord, one will need to split it between the right and left
hands. A similar situation happens in the third chord of measure 46, where the grace note
is actually played by the left hand crossing over the right hand. A suggested solution is
shown in Example 3.20. Blue denotes the left hand and red denotes the right hand.
Pedaling
The pedaling indication in the first measure is mettre beaucoup de pédale along
with dynamic indication p, doux et mélancolique. Those terms translate to “put a lot of
pedal” and “soft and melancholy.” To portray the bell tolls, the pedal may be sustained
for an extended period of time. From the beginning to measure 17, the pedal should be
sustained the whole time. Starting in measure 18, everything moves a little bit lower so a
new pedal should be employed until measure 24. In measures 25-30, the pedal should be
changed accordingly because of the call and response figure between the left and right

56
hands (Example 3.21). The melody in the right hand moves back to a higher register in
measures 31-34, therefore, one pedal should be used for the whole four measures. When
the melody returns to a lower register in measure 35, the pedal should be held until right
before the marked long silence. When the dynamic level drops to pp, such as measures 18
and 31, the soft pedal should be utilized. The melodic line in the left hand in measure 25-
31 is shown in Example 3.21.
In the middle section, Poulenc notes bref pédale sur chaque temps, which means
to use a brief pedal each time but on top of the left hand octave. One can assume that the
right hand chords are to be played with very little pedal and the left hand octaves are to
be played in an almost staccato manner.
In contrast to the first and last sections where the pedal is to be held throughout,
the pedal needs to be changed according to the right hand chords in this section. Example
3.22 shows pedaling suggestions for measures 49-54. In the last section, the pedal should
be employed in a similar manner as the first section. The pedal should be held
continuously from measures 68-80 and changed accordingly in measures 81-88, where
the left hand plays the melody. The rest of the section should have continuous pedal as

57
well with a small exception of the second to last measure, where Poulenc marks a fermata
above a quarter rest. That rest denotes total silence; therefore no pedal should be placed.
NOCTURNE 4: “Bal fantôme”

Form
This relatively short Nocturne only has 36 measures. It is similar to the previous
two nocturnes, also in ternary form. The first section is comprised of measures 1-16. The
second section begins in measure 17 and lasts until measure 28 before the opening theme
returns. The last section is much shorter than the first one, only lasting for 8 measures.

A C minor 1-16
A C minor- C major 29-36

58
Tempo
The initial tempo indication in “Bal fantôme” is lent, très las et piano at ♩=96.
Before the return of the opening theme in measure 27, Poulenc also marks cédez,
indicating that tempo should be slowed down before coming back to Tempo I in measure
28. Finally, in the last measure, to indicate a final ritardando, Poulenc marks cédez un
peu. In general, the tempo in this piece is fairly simple. There is not much room for
tempo fluctuations except for a little bit of ritardando at the end of each section as
indicated. However, this does not necessarily mean that the tempo has to be strictly at ♩
=96 throughout. A factor that needs to be taken into account is that “Bal fantôme” means
“Ghost Dance.” Therefore, any tempo adjustment should be done appropriately, while
keeping the dance mood.
The most difficult challenge of this piece is not technical. The texture of the piece
makes it relatively simple to learn. However, the true challenge lies in bringing the old-
world waltz to life. Mellers suggests that this piece is indeed “an exercise in nostalgia, in
which the chromatic harmony, sensuously spaced, lends fragrance to an old-world,
dotted-rhythmed waltz.”72 Other challenges include balance and voicing in the right hand.
The piece begins very soft (pp) but it gets even softer halfway through the first section
(ppp). The melody needs to be heard clearly while keeping the bass in the left hand
substantial. In order to keep the voices balanced, the left hand must move swiftly to the
chords after playing the bass and prepare to play very close to the keys to keep the sound
soft yet firm. The middle voice played by the right hand must remain subtle at all times.
72
Mellers, 43.

59
Keeping the fingers that are not playing the melody line flat and close to the keys will be
helpful in keeping the middle voice veiled.
In measure 9, where the dynamic is marked ppp, the melody moves up in register.
Due to the high register, it should be relatively easy to keep the sound very soft.
However, one needs to keep in mind that the dynamic range of the piece is relatively
small, with ppp being the softest and mp being the loudest. Therefore, the beginning
should not be too soft, considering that it will lower down to ppp later in the piece.
Example 3.23 shows the softest part of the piece, where there are leaps in the left hand
and the melody in the high register.
Pedaling
The pedal usage in the fourth Nocturne is relatively simple and self-explanatory.
The pedal should be changed according to harmonic changes, which happens frequently
due to its chromatic nature of the harmony. When the dynamic is marked ppp, the soft
pedal should be utilized.

60
NOCTURNE 5: “Phalènes”
Form
The simplest way to identify the form of the fifth Nocturne is to observe the
opening melody and its restatements. “Phalènes” has three main melodies: the opening
theme in the first two measures, the next melody in measures 17-19, and the third one in
the middle voice in measures 28-29. This set of three melodies is then repeated in a
similar manner. All three melodies are shorter than the first section of the piece. The first
one happens in measure 34, where the right hand melody is a third lower than the original
and the left hand part is a tritone lower. The second melody restatement is found in
measures 39-40, a fifth higher than its original statement. The last melody restatement
happens in measures 47-48. Examples 3.24-3.29 show the comparisons between
melodies.

61

62
Based on the observations above, the fifth Nocturne can be divided into two big
sections with three sub-sections each.

1A D minor 1-16
1B Transitional 17-27
1C D minor 28-33
2A B minor 34-38
2B Transitional 39-42
2C D minor 47-54

63
Although the composer indicates the key of this Nocturne (D minor), the tonality is not
clear throughout the piece, as it is mostly bitonal. According to Mellers, this nocturne “is
a night-scene to balance the town square of Malines.” He explains that it is about “moths
flicker in iridescent bitonality based on D minor” with a lyrical section in the “region of
B major, leading to a tune related to the first theme.”73 The piece ends in a bitonal
manner with D minor in the right hand and B-flat major in the left hand.
Tempo
The tempo indication marked in the beginning is Presto misterioso at =112.
Although the tempo is marked very fast because of its programmatic value of depicting
buzzing moths, =112 is too fast to successfully execute dual articulations that are
happening between both hands. In the beginning, the right hand is slurred while the left
hand part has staccati constantly. In order to keep both articulations distinct, the tempo
needs to be reduced.
Poulenc did not indicate many tempo changes in this piece. Due to the nature of
this piece, which Mellers calls “jitterly directionless,” there’s very little room for rubato
since there is hardly any sense of direction.74 The only tempo changes Poulenc marks are
cédez un peu in measure 16 and in measure 17, before the second melody emerges, where
Poulenc marks rependre exactement 1e Tempo (recapture exactly the first tempo). Notice
that Poulenc deliberately used the word exactement to ensure that the tempo matches the
tempo of the beginning.
73
Mellers, 43.
74
Ibid.

64
The technical challenge in the fifth Nocturne involves voicing. The main concern
in this section with the main challenge to keep the other voices sounding veiled. This can
be achieved by keeping the fingers slightly flat and close to the keys. A similar situation
also happens in measures 39-41.
Starting in measure 28, the melody is placed in the middle voice and marked f
while other voices are marked p. In order to bring this melody out, it is recommended that
fingers 1 and 2 be used while fingers 4 and 5 play the top chords lightly. A similar
situation happens in measure 47 to the end of the piece with the melody placed in the
middle (Examples 3.28 and 3.29).
Pedaling
In general, this piece is relatively dry. Although the opening melody of the right
hand is marked très lié (very connected), the left hand part is marked the opposite, sec et
très rythmé (dry and very rhythmic). Therefore, the legato in the right hand part must be
done physically, not with pedal. The only instances where pedal can be appropriately
used are during the “lyrical” sections, which happen in measures 17-21 and again in
measures 39-41.

65
NOCTURNE 6: G MAJOR
Form
The sixth Nocturne appears to be in ternary form. Poulenc explores symmetry in
this piece. The piece starts in the key of G major. The second theme emerges in measure
12 before the piece undergoes a series of free modulations throughout the middle section,
reaching its climax at measure 41. After the climax, the restatement of the second theme
appears first before the main theme. The tonality eventually returns to the home key of G
major with a restatement of the opening theme in measure 64. Similar to several previous
Nocturnes, the sixth Nocturne also has with a brief coda, ending in G minor. Mellers
briefly explained the overview of this piece in a single paragraph:
A stepwise-moving tune in G alternates with a chromatic undulation as tight as the

first theme is relaxed. Broken but calm arpeggiated fifths accompany the first theme,
and there is a passionate climax to the middle, before the themes are recapitulated in
reverse order. The open-fifth arpeggios dissipate into silence and the coda, mutating E
major unisons to an E flat major triad in first inversion, resolves gravely and
mysteriously on to G minor.75

A G major 1-11
B D minor 12-17
Transition Progressively changing 18-44
B’ B minor 45-63
A’ G major 64-77
Coda G major 78-85
Tempo
Poulenc marks several tempo indications in this piece. In the beginning (A
Section), it is marked très calme mais sans trainer (very calm but without dragging) at ♩
75
Mellers, 43.

66
=56. After the double bar at measure 11, which marks the beginning of the B section, the
tempo is noted as ♩=60, slightly faster than the beginning. The tempo then goes up to ♩
=66 in measure 17. Approaching the climax, beginning at measure 34, the tempo
accelerates more. When the A’ section begins, the tempo is back to its original speed.
The piece starts calmly and it becomes frantic gradually until the climax. Then it
dies down gradually until it becomes calm again. The beginning tempo of ♩=56 is
appropriate for this piece and should be followed as such. After that, the tempo moves to
♩=60, then ♩=66, then there is an accelerando before returning to the original tempo. The
tempo changes combined with meter changes, especially in measures 34-41, create a
sense of agitation until the climax at measure 40 (see Example 3.31). Following the
climax, the dynamic level drops to p, marked doucement expressif (gently expressive).
The tempo should be slowly but steadily adjusted when this section begins until it reaches
the original tempo by the time section A’ starts.
According to Daniel, the sixth Nocturne is well written, but pianistically
challenging.76 The first challenge is found in the beginning where the right hand has to
simultaneously play the melody in octaves and the sixteenth-note accompaniment. It is
crucial to physically hold the right hand melody whenever possible in order to avoid
unwanted accents and interrupted phrases. Example 3.32 shows where the right hand can
be held physically until the next melody octaves.
76
Daniel, 179.

67
Example 3.32 Nocturne No.6, mm. 1-4.
Another challenge is to keep the sixteenth notes accompaniment subtle throughout
the piece. The low register makes it harder to project a clear tone while remaining quiet.
One suggestion is to keep the tempo no faster than indicated to allow ample time to
prepare playing the accompaniment figures. Starting in measure 12, the middle voice,
played by the right hand, and the left hand must be played flowingly, evenly, and like a
whisper. A possible solution is to keep the fingers playing the middle and lower voices on

68
the surface of the keyboard, thus making them easier to move across or in and out of the
keys.
Pedaling
The pedal markings in the piece are not as extensive as we have seen in the
previous Nocturnes. Poulenc did not indicate any pedal markings in the piece except for
where it says sans pédale (without pedals) in measures 11 and 43. The pedal usage in the
beginning of this piece should be similar to the first Nocturne considering that both
pieces have similar textures (melody with arpeggiated accompaniment). In measure 12
(Example 3.33), where it is marked murmuré, the soft pedal should be used to
accommodate the soft dynamic and create a change of color.
NOCTURNE 7: E-FLAT MAJOR
Form
The seventh Nocturne is comprised of three sections, making it another Nocturne
with a ternary form. The first section of the piece runs from measures 1-16. The second

69
section is a series of modulation in the style of Fauré, according to Mellers.77 Finally, the
third section begins in the same manner as the beginning and ends in an extended E-flat
major chord. According to Mellers, the seventh Nocturne reintroduces the young dancers
from the second Nocturne, “now strolling or dancing in a balmy summer night.” He
continues his observations on this piece by writing, “A guideless tune –a typical Poulenc
invention– flows in arches, with an arpeggiated accompaniment luminously spaced. The
Fauréan middle is more rhythmically energetic, though no less lyrical. The da capo
smiles sweetly but wistfully, especially in the chromaticized cadence.”78

A E♭major 1-16
B Progressively changing 17-24
A’ E♭major 25-34
Tempo
The tempo in the beginning of this piece is marked assez allant at ♩=84.
Throughout the piece, Poulenc reinforces his desire for an unchanged tempo with
instructions such as surtout sans ralentir (always without slowing down) when
approaching the end of the first section and toujours strictement au meme movement
(always strictly in the same movement) in the middle section. Aside from those
indications, Poulenc also marked céder un peu (slow down a little bit) at the end of the
middle section and céder beaucoup (slow down a lot) at the end of the piece. With few
77
Mellers, 42.
78
Ibid, 43.

70
tempo changes, the piece should have a calm, flowing mood. Therefore, it is important to
adhere to ♩=84 metronome marking and not go faster.
In general, the technical challenges found in the seventh Nocturne are very similar
to the first and sixth Nocturnes since all three have almost the same texture. One
difference is that the melody of this Nocturne is more fast-flowing, with sixteenth-note
descending and ascending figures instead of larger values found in melodies in both the
first and sixth Nocturnes. Also, the middle voice in this piece is relatively bare. Like the
other similar Nocturnes, the accompaniment needs to always be under the melody.
Keeping the fingers on the surface will give greater mobility when moving across the
keys and help to keep the tone at a softer dynamic.
Another challenge in this piece is to create color changes. In the first section, the
melody moves down to a lower register in measure 7 that requires a color change. It then
moves back up to a higher register in measure 9, but now in chords instead of a single-
lined melody. This texture also happens in the second Nocturne. Example 3.34 shows the
melody in different registers. It is crucial to treat the melody as a vocal line and take a
slight breath after long phrases. This is because the jumps between registers require time
for the fingers to move and prepare so no unwanted accents will occur.
In the middle section, the voicing becomes a little more challenging because the
middle voice now requires more effort to play. Poulenc indicates that the melody must be
very connected (trés lié) so it needs to be physically held whenever possible instead of
relying on the help of the pedal.

71
The call and response between the left and right hands also needs to be highlighted. The
right hand fingers playing the middle voice should be kept slightly flat and very close to
the keys (see Example 3.35).

72
Pedaling
The pedal usage in the seventh Nocturne is relatively straightforward. In the
beginning of the piece, although there is no pedal indication, the performer should use a
lot of pedal. Poulenc indicates pedal markings where the harmony needs to be sustained
over more than one measure, such as measures 13-14 and at the end of the piece. Here,
the final chord is an extended E-flat major chord with the E-flat major harmony carried
over from the previous measure (see Example 3.36 below).
Example 3.36 Nocturne No.7, mm. 33-34.
In some instances, Poulenc also marks sec (dry), such as in measure 14, the
middle section, and measure 24. In measures 14 and 24, no pedal should be used since
the left hand part needs to be staccato. Poulenc also indicates sans pédale in those two
measures. However, in the middle section, the performer should use very minimal pedal
instead of no pedal at all. Pedal should be placed very briefly with each down beat during
this section.

73
NOCTURNE 8: G MAJOR
Form
The eighth Nocturne is the last of the cycle. It has a non-programmatic subtitle:
“pour servir de Coda au Cycle,” which means to serve as the coda of the cycle. Perhaps
Poulenc was also implementing the idea of symmetry with this piece because the end of
the cycle mostly resembles the beginning of the cycle. According to Daniel, this last
Nocturne is most similar to the first Nocturne.79 This piece is in monothematic ternary
form. Since the theme returns no more than three times, ternary form suits this piece
better than rondo form. The sections are divided based on the return of the main theme in
G major. The last section has a coda similar to the first Nocturne. The main melody is
similar to the first Nocturne, but in G major instead of C major, which Mellers explaines
as a “positive evolution, reinforced by the pulsing quavers that make the tender
harmony.”80
79
Daniel, 179.
80
Mellers, 44.

74

A G major 1-12
A’ G major 13-24
A’’ G major 25-30
Coda C major 30-34
Tempo
The tempo indication is marked très modéré at ♩=72. There is no other tempo
change indicated throughout the piece, not even at the coda. Since the coda is very
similar to the coda found in the first Nocturne (see Example 3.38), it is appropriate to
slow down the tempo to create a sense of finality. Since the last Nocturne is the shortest
out of all eight Nocturnes, there is not much room for tempo fluctuations in the piece.
The main, and perhaps the only, technical challenge in this piece is voicing. The
main tune is doubled in both hands, with eighth-note accompaniment in both hands as
well. The piece is marked le chant doucement en dehors, les batteries très discrètes,

75
which means the melody is to be played gently on the outside while the accompaniment
is very discrete. For the right hand, the accompaniment should be played with slightly flat
fingers and close to the keys. For the left hand, thumb and second fingers should be used
to play the melody and the rest of the fingers should also be kept slightly flat and close to
the keys.
Pedaling
Pedal should be used abundantly throughout the piece since Poulenc uses the
indication mettre beaucoup de pédale, which means, “to put a lot of pedal”. Since the
piece is very short and does not have a wide array of dynamic range, pedal usage is
relatively straightforward. In the coda, soft pedal may be used to accommodate the pp
dynamics.

CHAPTER 4
CONCLUSION
Based on the study done on Francis Poulenc’s Huit Nocturnes, several points can
be drawn. Firstly, most of the Nocturnes have simple, traditional forms. Nocturnes Nos. 1
and 8 both have rondo form, Nocturnes Nos. 5 and 6 are in binary form, and the rest of
the Nocturnes are in ternary form.
Table 4.1 Huit Nocturnes: Forms and Division of Sections
Form Sections
Nocturne No. 1 Rondo A-A’-A’’-A’’’-Coda
Nocturne No. 2 Ternary A-B-A’
Nocturne No. 5 Binary 1(A-B-C)- 2(A-B-C)
Nocturne No. 6 Binary A-B-transition-B’-A’-Coda
Nocturne No. 8 Monothematic Ternary A-A’-A’’-Coda
Secondly, as mentioned previously in this study, Poulenc utilized mostly diatonic
harmony with free modulations, which are often unprepared and “slippery.” For further
study about Poulenc’s use of harmony, Kent Werner’s study titled “The Harmonic Style
of Francis Poulenc,” is an excellent source to be consulted.81
81
Werner.
76
77
Thirdly, Poulenc almost always marked specific tempo indication: descriptive
text, metronome markings, or both. However, tempo indication is not absolute and the
final performance tempo should depend on the performer’s interpretation. As
Stutzenberger mentioned in her study, titled “The Published Solo Piano Works of Francis
Poulenc (1899-1963): A Performance Tape with Commentary,” Poulenc’s tempo
indications were not always consistent with what the composer had in mind.82 A journal
article written by Stutzenberger in 1982 titled “Poulenc’s Tempo Indication: To Follow
or Not to Follow,” is an excellent source for further research regarding Poulenc’s tempo
indications.83
Poulenc also often marked detailed pedaling instructions. Most of the time, he
indicates to use a lot of pedal or no pedal at all (dry). These indications are also to be
taken with a grain of salt. A performer needs to listen carefully in order to place pedals
appropriately. Just because it says a lot of pedal, does not necessarily mean the work
should loses clarity. The numerous challenges in the Nocturnes include: repeated notes
and/or chords in a very soft dynamic, peculiar shifts, the frequency of color or mood
changes due to the number of free modulations, and voicing issues. Most of the time,
these challenges can be resolved by choosing the appropriate tempo, experimenting with
fingerings, and experimenting with pedals to change nuances.
Upon completion of this study, I conclude that Francis Poulenc’s Huit Nocturnes
is an excellent representative of his piano works. These pieces are not extremely
demanding in terms of technique although they have unusually challenging piano
82
Stutzenberger, “Published Solo Works.”
83
Linda Stutzenberger, “Poulenc’s Tempo Indications: to Follow or Not to Follow,” American
Music Teacher 31, no. 3(1982): 26.

78
writings; therefore, they are excellent pieces to teach performance aspects such as
choosing the right tempo, possibilities with pedaling, phrasing and voicing. Huit
Nocturnes will benefit advanced piano students because they require detail-oriented
thinking and a mature musical sense. For performance purposes, Huit Nocturnes is an
excellent programming choice. Although it is not always necessary to perform all eight
pieces together, they make a great cycle as a whole. They are also unique enough to be
performed separately. It is my hope that this study will be a valuable resource for pianists
as they explore and perform more of Francis Poulenc’s piano works.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bernac, Pierre. Francis Poulenc, the Man and His Songs. Translated by Winnifred
Radford. New York: Norton, 1977.
Colletti, C.. “An interdisciplinary approach to selected works by Francis Poulenc”. Ph.D.
diss.,University of Iowa in ProQuest Dissertation & Theses [database online];
available from http://iiiprxy.library.miami.edu:2251
(publication number AAT 3323406; accessed September 6, 2010).
Daniel, Keith William. “Francis Poulenc: A study of his artistic development and his
musical style”. Ph.D. diss., State University of New York at Buffalo in ProQuest
Dissertation & Theses [database online]; available from
http://iiiprxy.library.miami.edu:2251
______. Francis Poulenc: His Artistic Development and Musical Style. Ann Arbor.,
Mich.: UMI Research Press, 1982.
De Nobel, Felix. “Memories of Francis Poulenc.” Sonorum Speculum XV (June 1963):39.
"Frank, Jean-Michel." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press.
http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T029709.
(accessed February 11, 2013).
Hell, Henri. Francis Poulenc. Translated by Edward Lockspeiser. New York: Grove
Press, 1959.
Ivry, Benjamin. Francis Poulenc. London: Phaidon, 1996.
Keck, George Russell. Francis Poulenc: A Bio-bibliography. Westport: Greenwood

Press, 1990.
Laufers, Elizabeth Ann. “Francis Poulenc’s use of counterpoint in chamber and piano
music, 1917- 1925”. M.M. diss., University of Missouri at Kansas City, 1999.
Machart, Renaud. Poulenc. Paris: Seuil, 1995.
McKinney, David Conley. “The influence of Parisian popular entertainment on the piano
works of Erik Satie and Francis Poulenc.” D.M.A. diss., University of North
Carolina at Greensboro, 1994.
Mellers, Wilfrid Howard. Francis Poulenc. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Nelson, Jon Ray. “The piano music of Francis Poulenc”. Ph.D. diss., University of
Washington, 1978.
79
80
Poulenc, Francis and Claude Rostand. Entretiens avec Claude Rostand. Paris: R. Julliard,
1954.
______. Francis Poulenc:“Echo and Source:” Selected Correspondence 1915-1963.
Edited and translated by Sidney Buckland. London: Victor Gollancz, 1991.
______. Huit Nocturnes pour Piano. Paris: Heugel, 1932.
______. Journal de més melodies )Diary of My Songs). Bi-lingual edition, translated by

Winifred Radford. London: Victor Gollancz, 1985.
Romain, Edwin Philip. “A study of Francis Poulenc’s ‘Fifteen Improvisations for Piano
Solo’”.D.M.A. diss., University of Southern Mississippi in ProQuest Dissertation
&Theses [database online]; available from http://iiiprxy.library.miami.edu:2251
Rorem, Ned. “Francis Poulenc.” In A Ned Rorem Reader. New Haven: Yale University
Press,2001.
Scheideker, Barbara Eileen. “Cultural influences on the piano music of Les Six”. D.M.A.
diss., University of Texas at Austin, 1995.

Sitton, Michael Randy. “The Album des Six and pianism in the works of Les Six, 1917-
1925”. D.M.A. diss., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1990.
Schmidt, Carl B. Entrancing Muse: A Documented Biography of Francis Poulenc.

Hillsdale, NY: Pendragon, 2001.
______. The Music of Francis Poulenc (1899-1963): A Catalogue. Oxford: Clarendon

Press, 1995; reprint, New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Spiessens, Godelieve and Sylvie Janssens. “Collaer, Paul.” In Grove Music Online.
Oxford Music Online.
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/06100
(accessed February 18, 2013).
Stutzenberger, Linda Pruitt. “The published solo piano works of Francis Poulenc: a
performance tape with commentary”. D.M.A. diss., University of Maryland,
1979.
______. “Poulenc’s Tempo Indications: to Follow or Not to Follow.” American Music

Teacher 31 no. 3 (1982): 26.

81
Weiser, Daniel Eric. “The visual stimulus: The influence of the visual arts on the musical
compositions of Emmanuel Chabrier, Erik Satie, and Francis Poulenc”. D.M.A.
diss.,Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University in ProQuest Dissertation
&Theses [database online]; available from http://iiiprxy.library.miami.edu:2251
Werner, Warren Kent. “The harmonic style of Francis Poulenc”. Ph.D. diss., University
of Iowa, 1966.

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Francis Poulenc's "Huit Nocturnes" for Piano: A

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FRANCIS POULENC’S HUIT NOCTURNES FOR PIANO: A PERFORMER’S GUIDE

Submitted to the Faculty

Coral Gables, Florida

A doctoral essay submitted in partial fulfillment of

FRANCIS POULENC’S HUIT NOCTURNES FOR PIANO: A

SIE, RENNY. (D.M.A., Keyboard Performance)

Abstract of a doctoral essay at the University of Miami.

Doctoral essay supervised by Professor Santiago Rodriguez.

(1899-1963) contributed immensely to keyboard literature. Unfortunately, his works for

about Poulenc and no studies focused on his Nocturnes were found.

LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES……………………………………………………iv

LIST OF MUSICAL EXAMPLES

Example 1.1 Nocturne No.1, mm.1-7……………………………………………………10

Example 1.2 Nocturne No.1, mm.24-31…………………………………………………12

Example 1.3 Nocturne No.1, mm.39-42…………………………………………………13

Example 1.4 Sextet: III Finale, mm. 90-95………………………………………………14

Example 2.1 Nocturne No.1, mm.87-92…………………………………………………26

Example 2.2 Nocturne No.2, m. 1…….…………………………………………………28

Example 2.3 Nocturne No.2, mm.28-30…………………………………………………28

Example 2.4 Nocturne No.3, mm.1-4……………………………………………………29

Example 2.5 Nocturne No.4, mm.1-3……………………………………………………32

Example 2.6 Satie, Gymnopedie No.1, mm. 1-5…………………………………………32

Example 2.7 Satie, Gnosienne No.1, mm. 1-4...…………………………………………32

Example 2.8 Nocturne No.4, mm.1-2……………………………………………………34

Example 2.9 Nocturne No.2, m.1.….……………………………………………………35

Example 2.10 Nocturne No.7, mm.1-2..…………………………………………………35

Example 2.11 Nocturne No.1, mm.87-92..………………………………………………36

Example 2.12 Nocturne No.8, mm. 30-34..……………………………………………...36

Example 3.1 Nocturne No.1, mm. 87-92..…………………………………………….....40

Example 3.2 Nocturne No.1, mm. 27-28..…………………………………………….....41

Example 3.3 Nocturne No.1, mm. 4-7..…………………………………………….........42

Example 3.4 Nocturne No.1, mm. 20-23..…………………………………………….....43

Example 3.5 Nocturne No.1, mm. 27-28..…………………………………………….....43

Example 3.6 Nocturne No.1, mm. 36-37..…………………………………………….....45

Example 3.7 Nocturne No.1, mm. 39-40..…………………………………………….....45

Example 3.8 Nocturne No.1, mm. 88-92..…………………………………………….....46

Example 3.9 Nocturne No.1, mm. 20-21..…………………………………………….....46

Example 3.10 Nocturne No.1, mm. 16-19…………………………………………….....47

Example 3.11 Nocturne No.1, mm. 32-35…………………………………………….....47

Example 3.12 Nocturne No.2, mm. 17-18…………………………………………….....48

Example 3.13 Nocturne No.2, mm. 27-30…………………………………………….....48

Example 3.14 Nocturne No.2, mm. 15-16…………………………………………….....49

Example 3.15 Nocturne No.2, m.1…………………………………………………….....50

Example 3.16 Nocturne No.2, mm. 4-5……………………………………………….....51

Example 3.17 Nocturne No.2, mm. 27-30…………………………………………….....52

Example 3.18 Nocturne No.3, mm. 38-43…………………………………………….....53

Example 3.19 Nocturne No.3, mm. 62-67…………………………………………….....53

Example 3.20 Nocturne No.3, mm. 44-48…………………………………………….....55

Example 3.21 Nocturne No.3, mm. 25-31…………………………………………….....56

Example 3.22 Nocturne No.3, mm. 49-54…………………………………………….....57

Example 3.23 Nocturne No.4, mm. 8-11..…………………………………………….....59

Example 3.24 Nocturne No.5, mm. 1-2……………………………………………….....60