Repertoire: Miniature Masterpieces No. 6 (Milhaud)

Darius Milhaud wrote tons of music, and tons of marvelous music, but we still haven't quite sorted out how to deal with this imposing output of disparate and stylistically diverse works. Why not start here, with his Six Petites Symphonies, tiny pieces lasting between three and seven minutes each? Check out this sample, the finale of Little Symphony No. 1, subtitled "Printemps," or "Spring." The composer himself conducts.
Music Example courtesy of Vox Records

[@AlexMadorsky]

I have an almost irrational love of the charming sound world of Darius Milhaud and have a LOT of his works on LP and CD. I adore not just the greatest hits, but the symphony and concerto deep cuts too. UPDATE: I just remembered I have this CD in the trunk of my car! Thanks for sharing these little symphonies with us.

[@IgnatzKolisch]

You keep sharing pleasant surprise after pleasant surprise. What a delightful new experience, thank you so much!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stefanoruggeri100]

I have never listened so thank you, your channel is a treasure for sure,

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Stephenjamesbutler]

Just acquired this (now on Brilliant Classics). It is marvellous. He likes his percussion.

[@johanbjerka2230]

Four of my favourite miniatures would be: Ligeti: 1st movement from 6 Bagatelles for wind quintet, Mozart: Kleine Gigue KV 574 for piano, Tveitt: ‘Langeleik’ from 100 Folk tunes from Hardanger, Op. 151, Suite no. 1, Lutoslawski: 1st movement from Dance Preludes for clarinet and chamber orchestra

[@HassoBenSoba]

I've had this VOX set on my shelf for 10 years, still unopened. Now, I 'll definitely open it. I've done Milhaud's Suite Provencale twice, and hope you'll present something from it...maybe the 1st Mvt (Miniature Masterpiece?!). It's a wonderful work. I always wanted to present his Concerto for Two Pianos..the one Milhaud himself recorded on Westminster in 1958 (I think). The Finale is INSANE..like Ricky Riccardo's nightclub gone berserk. In the final (40-second-long) return of the big Theme, Milhaud's orchestra (French) used a HUGE BASS DRUM pounding away in a syncopated rhythm against the Pianos and Orchestra; totally unhinged! Years ago, I checked Milhaud's hand-written ink manuscript in the Library of Congress, and there's NO Bass Drum written...only Milhaud's typical Three-Drum combo (snare, tenor and Provencal drums..high to low..). But Milhaud adds the monster Bass Drum to the lowest part. I had intended to present the work in concert, complete with the monster drum at the end AND a quartet of Brazilian Dancers in Hawaiian shirts making their entrance for this final recap, playing "Babalu" drums. Alas, it never happened, for fear of an old-subscriber revolt (AND finding a duo-piano team to learn the work; they all played Mozart and Poulenc). LR

[@johnwindham8553]

I oft return to Milhaud's second violin concerto.

[@edwardcasper5231]

Another sound rationale for employing smaller ensembles is that paying 300 performers can get expensive. I've not heard a ton of Milhaud, but I really like what I've heard quite a bit. Finally, to your recent talk about cataloging music, maybe someone should do that for Milhaud?

[@whistlerfred6579]

Milhaud was an expert of the musical miniature, and he could pack a lot into a short span. I have what I think are the same recordings, but released on the Brilliant label (even though the Vox Box is still available). They are a delight. On the topic, I'm still looking for the CD release of one of my favorite Milhaud works, the Symphonic Suite No. 2 ("Protée"), last seen on an Angel LP. Cheers!

[@disasterblaster3693]

There is a CD recording with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by the composer on BBC Radio Classics/ Carlton Classics. 15656 91862. It would be out of print but I see it is for sale on British Ebay under the title Milhaud - Double Piano Concerto; Symphonic Suite No. 2; Suite Provençale CD Mint

[@whistlerfred6579]

@@disasterblaster3693 Thanks!

[@moshegoldstein4663]

Can i suggest in this case ,also the French outstanding composer jean francaix? I love his joy of life music so much..and hate the fact ,that his lively music,is mostly ignored...

[@tarakb7606]

An enjoyable piece from a composer that may not get mentioned that often is Nicolai Kasputin's Prelude from his Eight Concert Etudes Op 40.

[@johnburlinson6697]

A suggestion for a miniature masterpiece on the grand scale -- one of the shortest, if not the shortest, arias in grand opera: Esultate, in Otello. 12 measures comprising a phrase of unequal segments, with no reprise or symmetry. An alternative, or a supplement, might be "Quandero paggio..." from Falstaff -- about 30 seconds long. Singers from the past, frustrated by its brevity, were known to repeat it two or three times in order, presumably, to give the audience its money's worth.

[@Sulsfort]

The last one of Beethovens 11 Bagatelles for piano op. 119 is both songful and laconic. A little bit melancholic, though.

[@Cesar_SM]

Oh, yes, the Little Symphonies are sovereign charmers. Some Milhaud's works can be a little weird, but not these delectable miniatures.

[@gabriellaumartins3592]

One suggestion I have for a video about miniatures is Villa-Lobos´s "Choros" n.2 for flute and clarinet

[@GastonBulbous]

I have bought that Vox set twice, and both have a skip in the same place, a pressing defect. There’s a reason these are floating around so cheap!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I never had a problem.

[@GastonBulbous]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Sorry, I never meant to imply you had recommended something bad but simply intended to give others a heads-up. I went through a Milhaud craze a couple of years ago, before I had ever discovered your great KZbin channel, and I bought these Vox titles used online then. Both super-cheap (under $3, postage included with other items I ordered). Both were in visually in excellent condition. But they skipped in the same place, so there were some kind of pressing issues. The fact that a 2-disc set circulates still for such low prices kinda supports my suspicion. If there were no problems, they could easily fetch 5 times what I paid, I think! Anyways, sorry if it seemed if I had faulted you. I am gorging on your channel this week and thoroughly enjoying it! 💛

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@GastonBulbous No problem. I didn't take it that way at all--I just had no problems with my copy of the set. Thanks for watching and joining in the conversations!

[@estel5335]

Grieg - Lyric Pieces, Op. 62- No. 4, 'The Brook' or Op. 71 Nr. 3 'Kobold' Also as charming - from Schubert's 'Die schöne Müllerin' - 'Der Jäger' (D.795/14) ;)