Choral and Vocal Music
Poulenc made a significant and idiomatic contribution to the art of French
solo song, in addition to a number of choral works. His solo songs range from
settings of Apollinaire and Cocteau to settings of Ronsard. His melodrama L'Histoire
de Babar, for reciter and piano, tells the story of Babar the Elephant, the
creation of Jean de Brunhoff, a simple tale for children. His church music,
after his inner conversion to the Catholic religion of his childhood in 1935,
is marked by a Mass setting of 1937, and, more notably, the moving Stabat mater
of 1950. In 1959 came the Gloria, for solo soprano, chorus and orchestra, with
a final more sombre Sept répons des ténèbres in 1961.
Chamber Music
French composers of the present century have shown a particular deftness
in the handling of woodwind instruments. This ability is exemplified in Poulenc's
sonatas for flute, for clarinet and for oboe and piano, in addition to an attractive
Trio for oboe, bassoon and piano.
Piano Music
The best known of all Poulenc's music was at one time the three Mouvements
perpétuels of 1918. There is a piano duet sonata of the same year and
a number of attractive short pieces, including a neo-classical Suite after Claude
Gervaise and the elegant Promenades.
