Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux for flute and clarinet (1984) | Compositions

Dedication: pour Pierre Boulez en célébration de son soixantième anniversaire (for Pierre Boulez in celebration of his sixtieth birthday)
Buy Score: Hendon Music (Boosey & Hawkes)
Manuscripts: Paul Sacher Stiftung

Premiere: Mar 31, 1985/ Lawrence Beauregard (fl), Alain Damiens (cl)/ Südwestfunk, Baden-Baden

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Esprit rude Esprit doux clip

Esprit rude/Esprit doux was composed for the celebration of Pierre Boulez’s 60th birthday on March 31, 1985, commissioned by the Southwest German Radio. The title, translated as “rough breathing/smooth breathing,” refers to the pronunciation of classical Greek words beginning with a vowel. With esprit rude (rough breathing) the initial vowel is to be preceded by a sounded H, and is indicated by a reverse comma above the letter. With esprit doux (smooth breathing) the initial vowel is not to be preceded by H and is indicated by a comma above the vowel. In the Greek for “sixtieth year” (transliterated as hexèkoston etos) the initial epsilon of the first word has a rough breathing sign while the epsilon of the second has a smooth one.

The score begins and ends with the motto:
B-flat C A E
B (O) U(t) L(a) E (Z) using both the French and German names of the notes. Both instruments have some rough and some smooth breathing.

– Elliott Carter

Recordings (11)

Claire Chase: Terrestre
New Focus 122 (2012)
Claire Chase, flute | Joshua Rubin, clarinet
Nouvel Ensemble Moderne plays Elliott Carter
ATMA Classique (2002)
Caroline Lizotte, clarinet | Nouvel Ensemble Moderne | Lorraine Vaillancourt, conductor
Elliott Carter: Oboe Concerto; Espirit Rude/Esprit Doux; A Mirror on Which to Dwell; Penthode
Apex 85738 92272 (2001)
Heinz Holliger, oboe | Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, conductor | Sophie Cherrier, flute | André Trouttet, clarinet | Phyllis Bryn-Julson, soprano
Elliott Carter: Musique de chambre
Arion ARN 68495 (2000)
Patrick Gallois, flute | Maurice Bourgue, oboe | Michel Lethiec, clarinet | Amaury Wallez, bassoon | André Cazalet, horn | Claire Désert, piano | Gérard Poulet, violin (+1)
Ensemble Contrasts: Elliott Carter: Chamber Music for Winds
cpo 999 453-2 (1998)
Ensemble Contrasts | Michael Faust, flute | Christian Hommel, oboe | David Smeyers, clarinet | Volker Grewel, horn | Dag Jensen, bassoon | Michael Faust, flute (+11)
Earplay
Centaur CRC 2274 (1996)
Janet Kutulas, flute | Peter Josheff, clarinet
Boulez: Schoenberg, Berio, Carter, Kurtág, Xenakis
Erato 4509-98496-2 (1995)
Heinz Holliger, oboe | Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, conductor | Sophie Cherrier | André Trouttet, clarinet | Phyllis Bryn-Julson
Da Capo Chamber Players: Perle/Carter
GM Recordings GM2020CD (1990)
Da Capo Chamber Players: Patricia Spencer, flute; Laura Flax, clarinet; Joel Lester, violin; Andre Emelianoff, cello; Sarah Rothenberg, piano
Elliott Carter: Oboe Concerto; Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux; A Mirror on Which to Dwell; Penthode
Erato ECD 75553 (1990)
Heinz Holliger, oboe | Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez, conductor | Sophie Cherrier | André Trouttet, clarinet | Phyllis Bryn-Julson, soprano
The California EAR Unit: Modern Chamber Ensemble Compositions
New Albion NA019 CD (1989)
Dorothy Stone, flute | Erika Duke, cello | Dorothy Stone, flute | Theresa Tunnicliff, clarinet | Dorothy Stone, flute | James Rohrig, bass clarinet | Robin Lorentz, violin (+1)
Thomas Demenga: J.S. Bach; Elliott Carter
ECM New Series 1391 (839 617-2) (1986)
Philippe Racine, flute | Ernesto Molinari, clarinet | Thomas Demenga, cello | Philippe Racine, flute | Hansheinz Schneeberger, violin | Philippe Racine, flute | Ernesto Molinari, clarinet (+3)