A Pedagogical and Performance Analysis of Francis Poulenc’s Works for Two Pianos and Four Hands

Abstract

Francis Poulenc’s piano duo music has not received the same detailed scrutiny as the solo piano music, even though this relatively small body of repertoire (just five pieces in total) is quite valuable. Its emotional scope ranges from the farcical comedy found in the Capriccio and Sonata for Four Hands to the utmost seriousness of the Sonata for Two Pianos. The music is both approachable by children (L’embarquement pour Cythère) and understandable only by those possessing good musical taste (Élégie). It is technically varied, full of harmonic interest and thematic beauty, readily received by audiences. This document will seek to show why the literature is important for Poulenc researchers in a study of his life and art. These works span the length of his career, with the earliest work written in 1918 and the last work in 1959 nearly four years before his death, providing valuable insight into the evolution of his compositional styles. It will further delve into specific stylistic aspects of Poulenc’s music. Finally, it will provide collaborative and performance practice considerations of the repertoire and will give specific and detailed analyses of each of the pieces.