Cantilena by Francis Poulenc

1899-1963

One of the great melodists of the twentieth century, Poulenc was largely self-taught as a composer.  He was most noted for his melodies, grace, wit ,irony and sentiment. In the early 1920s he belonged to the Paris-based group of composers Les Six who led the neo-classical movement, rejecting the overstated emotion of Romanticism.

He composed music in all major genres, including art song, chamber music, oratorio, opera, ballet and orchestral music.

Poulenc’s earlier works were lighthearted but following the death of a close friend in the 1930s, Poulenc rediscovered his Roman Catholic faith and replaced neo-classicism with a new-found spiritual depth.

Poulenc also struggled with his sexuality and manic depression which I feel is evident in this Sonata. The Cantilena is a very still interlude between the two very contrasting outer movements, almost the calm before the storm.