Ballade pour flûte et piano | Ballade pour flûte, orchestre à cordes et piano | Ballade pour flûte et orchestre

Ballade pour flûte et piano | Ballade pour flûte, orchestre à cordes et piano | Ballade pour flûte et orchestre
Ballade for flute and piano | Ballade for flute, string orchestra and piano | Ballade for flute and full orchestra

Year of composition

1939

Duration

8'

Scored for

Flute and piano (original version)
Commission: ‘Premier Concours international d’exécution musicale, Genève’ (1939).
Other versions: flute and full orchestra (arr. Ernest Ansermet, 1939): 0 2 2 1sax - 2 0 0 0 - timp. - celesta - harp - strings; flute, string orchestra and piano (Frank Martin, 1941)

Publication information

Original version (UE18034/UE70049); version for flute, string orchestra and piano (UE11316); version for flute and full orchestra (arr. Ernest Ansermet, UE)

Commentary

This Ballade was written originally for flute and piano at the beginning of 1939 at the request of the Geneva international competition of musical performance, intended as a compulsory piece for the flute. The commission was first and foremost to compose a piece that would show all the qualities of the flute players competing at this event, especially the technical aspects of the flute. Frank Martin did not want to expose only instrumental difficulties but chose to write true music, which would allow the young flautists to prove their qualities of musicianship and artistry. Even the part of the piano accompaniment is interesting and needs a good pianist to realise all the rich musical content. As far as the form is concerned, like the other Ballades by Frank Martin, it is quite rhapsodic and epic in character.
The version of the work for flute, string orchestra and piano was arranged by Frank Martin in 1941.
(Maria Martin, 1975 - In: Record booklet Pathé Marconi (EMI) 2 C 069-2688)

Premiere

• World premiere original version for flute and piano: Geneva, September 1939. Concours International d’exécution musicale
• World premiere version for flute, string orchestra and piano: Basle, 28 November 1941. Joseph Bopp, flute; Paul Sacher, conductor
• World premiere version for flute and full orchestra (arr. Ernest Ansermet): Lausanne/Geneva 27/29 November 1939. André Pépin, flute. Ernest Ansermet, conductor

Recordings (selective list)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Sharon Bezaly, flute
    Ronald Brautigam, piano
    BIS ℗ + © 2010

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    Jacques Zoon, flute
    Ronald Brautigam, piano
    Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
    Riccardo Chailly, conductor
    Decca Music Group Limited ℗ + © 2015

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    Aurèle Nicolet, flute
    Werner Bartschi, piano
    Zürch Chamber Orchestra
    Edmond de Stoutz, conductor
    (recorded) -6.IX.1974 Victoria Hall, Geneva)
    EMI 5 099926 434421 ℗ 2009 (FMS011)

  • José-Daniel Castellon, flute
    Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
    Nicolas Chalvin, conductor
    Claves Records LC3369 ℗ + © 2019 (FMS026)

  • Version for flute and piano
    ‘Frank Martin interprète Frank Martin’
    Robert Willoughby, flute
    Frank Martin, piano
    Jecklin-Disco JD 563-2 ℗ + © 1989 (FMS032)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Anton Serra, flute
    Montserrat Casabo, piano
    Ars Harminica AH 1001F SGAE ℗ 1996 (FMS064)

  • Version for flute and full orchestra (Ernest Ansermet, 1939)
    Michael Faust, flute
    Kölner Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester
    Alun Francis, conductor
    CAPRICCIO 10 495 ℗ 1994 (FMS066)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Irena Grafenauer, flute
    Michael Grandt, piano
    Philips 426 248-2 ℗ 1990 (FMS072)

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    Elizabeth Brown, flute
    Philharmonia Virtuosi
    Richard Kapp, conductor
    Wijnand van Hoof WVH 051 ℗ + © ? (FMS073)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Manuela Wiesler, flute
    Julius Jacobson, piano
    BIS -CD-71 © 1990 & ℗ 1996 (FMS104)

  • Version for flute and piano
    ‘Frank Martin - Intégrale des oeuvres pour flûte’
    Emanuel Pahud, flute
    Francesco Piemontesi, piano
    Musique Suisses MGB 6275 CD2 © + ℗ 2012 (FMS107)

  • Version for flute and full orchestra (Ernest Ansermet, 1939)
    ‘Frank Martin - Intégrale des oeuvres pour flûte’
    Emanuel Pahud, flute
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Musique Suisses MGB 6275 © + ℗ 2012 (FMS107)

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    ‘Frank Martin - Intégrale des oeuvres pour flûte’
    Emanuel Pahud, flute
    Francesco Piemontesi, piano
    Strings of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Musique Suisses MGB 6275 © + ℗ 2012 (FMS107)

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    Susan Milan, flute
    Michael Dussek, piano
    City of London Sinfonia
    Richard Hickox, conductor
    Chandos CHAN 8840 ℗ + © 1990 (FMS108)

  • Version for flute and full orchestra (Ernest Ansermet, 1939)
    ‘Frank Martin - Ballades’
    Celia Chambers, flute
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    Matthias Bamert, conductor
    CHANDOS CHAN 9380 ℗ + © 1995 (FMS114)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Karen Jones, flute
    Lain Brunside, piano
    ASV CD DCA 1010 ℗ + © 1997 (FMS118)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Peter-Lukas Graf, flute
    Bernd Glemser, piano
    Claves CD 50-9307 ℗ & © 1994 (FMS120)

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    André Pépin, flute
    Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
    Frank Martin, conductor
    Live recording 25.02.1958 - Radio Genève
    CASCAVELLE VEL2001 ℗ 1990 (FMS133)

  • Version for flute, string orchestra and piano (1941)
    ‘Spiritoso’
    Johannes Hustedt, flute
    Eriko Takezawa-Sischka, piano
    St. Christopher Chamber Orchestra of Vilnius
    Donatas Katkus, conductor
    RBM 463042/43 ℗ 2006 (FMS190)

  • Version for flute and piano
    ‘Flute Music by Swiss Composers’
    Maurice Heugen, flute
    Marianne Boer, piano
    ETCETERA KTC 1193 ℗ 1996 (FMS197)

  • Version for flute and piano
    Marc Beaucoudray, flute
    Yves Henri, piano
    ADDA 590016 ℗ 1990 (FMS198)

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