Dedicated to Wanda Landowska, the Concert champêtre is scored for an orchestra of double woodwind, with piccolo and cor anglais, four French horns, two trumpets, trombone, tuba and three timpani. The percussion section is large one, including xylophone, snare-drum, side-drum, tambourine, triangle, bass drum and cymbals. The score stipulates a complement of 28 string-players, sixteen violins, and four violas, four cellos and four double basses. Under the heading Allegro molto, the first movement opens with a slow introduction, the woodwind echoed by the horns, before the entry of the soloist, who subsequently introduces the Allegro molto. This demonstrates clearly enough Poulenc's new-found interest in the French clavecinistes, in the music of Couperin and Rameau, for which Wanda Landowska had aroused his enthusiasm. A series of musical ideas are introduced, leading to an abrupt pause followed by a French horn motif, played with bells raised and marked Tragique. Further ideas are introduced, moving forward to slow arpeggiated chords from the soloist and a melancholy modal melody. The Allegro molto resumes, leading to the return of the first material.

The slow movement, in characteristic Sicilienne rhythm and mood, shifts in key from the previous D major to G minor, proceeding to a central section in A flat major, all derived, in one way or another, from the prevailing dance rhythm. The last movement starts with the Baroque figuration of a final gigue, its rhythm broken and leading, allusively, to further episodes with changes of meter and key, including a brusque march, moments of lyricism and a solemn passage introduced by French horn and trumpet, over soft string chords. The harpsichord resumes with an Allegro giocoso and music derived from a simple motif. There is a pause and the soloist returns, to offer a melancholy D minor, echoed, in this pastoral scene, by piccolo and oboe, in sad conjunction.

Writer: Keith Anderson