Francis Poulenc

Serenade

Born in Paris in 1899, Francis Poulenc soon became a notable composer and pianist. His Serenade, originally composed in 1925-1926 for Voice and Piano, met much success as part of his BawdySongs. Therefore, it was well-received when Maurice Gendron transcribed it for Cello and Piano.

Poulenc, as a member of Les Six, composed music in a style contrary to that of Richard Wagner and impressionists Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. Serenade reflects the composer's contrasting style, making use of a 6/8 time signature, double stops, variations in articulation and wide range on the Cello. Being an imaginative and evocative composition, Serenade, transcribed for Cello and Piano, is a pleasurable addition to the repertoire.