Aantekening
This concerto consists of two parts connected together and is classified as a dramatic work by the composer.
After the audition of “Choephores” in Brussels, the kettle-drummer Theo Coutelier, who had a percussion class in Schaarbeek near Brussels at the time, asked Darius Milhaud to write a concerto for only one percussionist. He wished to use the piece for his examinations. The school had only a few orchestral musicians: two flutes, two clarinets, one trumpet, one trombone and strings.
When Darius Milhaud composed it between 1929 and 1930 in Paris, jazz had a lot of influence on musical compositions. He wanted to avoid anyone might think this was that kind of work. Therefore he stressed the rough and dramatic part of the piece. This was also the reason why he didn't write a cadenza and always refused anyone to add one to the piece. Milhaud already paid his tribute to jazz in “La Creation du Monde”.
Except for a part written for a kettle-drummer, there is only one performer designated for the percussion part.
The premiere of the concerto was performed by Theo Coutelier under the direction of Darius Milhaud himself, in the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels in 1930.
Milhaud mentioned he was pleasantly surprised to see this concerto often performed in high schools in the US by young students.
Relaties
| gecomponeerd in: | Paris, Île-de-France, Frankrijk (van 1929 tot 1930) |
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| componist: | Darius Milhaud (composer) (van 1929 tot 1930) |
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| geschreven in opdracht van: | Theo Coutelier (percussionist) |
| in première gebracht door: | Theo Coutelier (percussionist) (in 1930) Darius Milhaud (composer) (in 1930) |
| had de première bij: | Palais des Beaux‐Arts (Centre for Fine Arts) in Brussels (Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest), België (in 1930) |
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| deel van: | Works of Darius Milhaud by opus number (nummer: op. 109) (volgorde: 48) |
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