Dolly Suite (Fauré) (2 versions)

Version 1 scoring: Wind sextet
Date: 2018

The “Dolly Suite” piano duet by Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) is here arranged for a wind sextet, consisting of a standard wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon) plus bass clarinet. The bass clarinet gives the music more sonority and it allows the arranger more opportunity to bring out Fauré’s sumptuous harmonies. “Dolly” was the nickname of the baby daughter of Emma Bardac, with whom Fauré had a long-running affair, and each of the pieces has a slightly different association with childhood.

1)   The “Berceuse” (lullaby) is best remembered as the theme tune to the BBC’s “Listen with Mother”, and its tune is indelibly marked into the memories of generations of radio listeners between 1950 and 1982. It was written for Dolly’s first birthday. (An alternative part for clarinet in A is available for this movement, to avoid the otherwise slightly tricky key signature of F sharp major!)

2)   “Mi-a-ou” has nothing to do with cats, but is a version of Dolly’s first attempts to pronounce the name of her brother Raoul. Written for her second birthday, it is a delicate and playful scherzo with lots of cross-rhythms for the instruments.

3)   “Le Jardin de Dolly” is regarded by some as the best piece in the collection, with its gorgeous tune and unexpected harmonies, creating an impressionistic picture of a beautiful, peaceful French garden.

4)   “Kitty-Valse” again has nothing to do with cats but with the family dog “Ketty”, who whirls round and round, in unrelenting cheerfulness.

5)   In “Tendresse” Fauré introduces more chromatic harmonies, used in his later works. As its name and its key of D flat suggests, the music here seems to express deep and shifting emotions associated with intimate relationships, while retaining a sense of calm and comfort throughout.

6)   The last piece, “Le Pas Espagnole” is a thrilling journey across the border into the exotic Spanish world of dance. There is much in common with Chabrier’s “Espana”, and here the wind players can enjoy playing at “full tilt” in an exciting and tuneful end to the suite.

Links: sextet pdf including parts - sextet mp3 - midi - mxl - sextet sib

Version 2 scoring: Wind quintet
Date: 2017
Links: quintet pdf including parts - quintet mp3 - midi - mxl - quintet sib