Description

A suite created in 1920 consists of three movements: 1) Presto, 2) Andante, and 3) Vif. In January of that year, critic Henri Collet referred to Poulenc and five of his fellow composers as 'Le Groupe des Six,' drawing a parallel to the Russian Five. This label served as a useful promotional tool, and Jean Cocteau, acting as their self-appointed spokesperson, quickly seized the opportunity. However, each member of the group maintained that they were merely a circle of friends without any shared musical objectives. Notably, Poulenc's Suite for Piano and Impromptus align well with Cocteau's vision, characterized by their clarity, lightness, and entertainment value. In contrast, the Promenades, composed in 1921 for Artur Rubinstein, reflect a more serious aspect of Poulenc's work that was already striving for recognition. This ten-movement piece, celebrating various modes of transportation, delves into several innovative musical techniques that captivated composers in the 1920s. While the resulting musical language may have posed challenges for pianists of that era, it now resonates as a product of its time.