Poulenc Novelette No. 2 - a Bit on the Wild Side

Poulenc's first two novelettes, the one in C major that I posted yesterday, and today's second novelette in B-flat minor, were composed in 1927 and 1928, and first performed by Poulenc at a Paris concert in June of 1928. The second novelette is in many ways similar to a scherzo, and very different from the sonorous and melodic first and third. All demonstrate multi-layered piano writing. Poulenc was mainly a self taught composer, and he was was one of the first openly gay composers, dedicating many of his pieces to his lovers. His most immediate influences were Chabrier, Debussy, Satie, and Stravinsky. Stravinsky helped get his early music published.