Indicate your favo(u)rite composition by Henri Dutilleux

If you had allowed multiple choices, I could have given an approximate answer (I am relatively new to the composer's work, with only one listening session in the past two or so years).

Overall, I´ve been listening to Metaboles, the Sonata and the 1st Symphony mostly.

Am not saying though that for example the concertos or the 2nd Symphony aren´t better, I just don´t remember details.

brotagonist said:

If you had allowed multiple choices, I could have given an approximate answer (I am relatively new to the composer's work, with only one listening session in the past two or so years).

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I didn't select the multiple choice option for this poll because this composer's output is small enough for us TC members to select a single favorite. If you choose 3 titles, that's one-third of his lifetime of work!

Prodromides said:

I didn't select the multiple choice option for this poll because this composer's output is small enough for us TC members to select a single favorite. If you choose 3 titles, that's one-third of his lifetime of work!

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If I only liked one of his works, would I have just bought a 4CD set? Considering I already had a 2CD set, there already is a fair bit of duplication. What I'm saying is that I think his output is of a fairly uniform high standard, so I cannot single out just one work :tiphat:

I chose the the Cello Concerto although I like many of the other works and may like some as well as the concerto. The Cello Concerto was the first of his works I really liked so perhaps that biases my view somewhat.

My current favorite is not listed, the late song cycle Correspondances. It may just be that I'm excited about it at the moment because I only recently discovered it, however.

Of those listed that I know, I like L'Arbre des Songes best.

You left off Dutilleux's string quartet "Ainsi La Nuit" (#59 on TC's String Quartet list and a very important work in the genre) as well as Correspondances (noted above) and his ballet Le loup, a personal favourite of mine.

His piano works are well worth knowing, especially his Sonata of 1948. Here's an excellent Naxos album worth considering.
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Piano-Music-Henri-Dutilleux/dp/B000L42J9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1440273287&sr=1-1&keywords=dutilleux+piano

:tiphat:

isorhythm said:

My current favorite is not listed, the late song cycle Correspondances. It may just be that I'm excited about it at the moment because I only recently discovered it, however.

Of those listed that I know, I like L'Arbre des Songes best.

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L'Arbre des Songes would be my 2nd favorite.

Since your fave is not listed, please vote for "other" if you haven't already.

D Smith said:

You left off Dutilleux's string quartet "Ainsi La Nuit" (#59 on TC's String Quartet list and a very important work in the genre) as well as Correspondances (noted above) and his ballet Le loup, a personal favourite of mine.

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You're correct - Dutilleux wrote more than what I listed. My intention wasn't to be comprehensive and list everything HD had ever completed. Reviewing my own music collection, I selected those works which had the largest number of recordings (thinking these would be the most familiar to listeners).

It's nice to read the collective input from TC members on specific composers and music without grappling over definitions and such...

I voted the last option because I am unfamiliar with the composer's music.

I think it's difficult to play favourites with a composer with such a consistent oeuvre! Forced to choose I think that "Timbres, Espace, Mouvement", Correspondances and Ainsi La Nuit would be my top 3...

/ptr

I'm, not familiar with much of his music, but I had to choose the Symphony No. 1 for its opening. I love all those slightly syncopated or lopsided rhythms with horn blasts coming in after about a minute and a half.

Happy 100th Birthday to Henri Dutilleux! Les Citations is one of my favorites.

I'm unfamiliar with the music of Dutilleaux, but I'm interested in changing that someday.