Quotations and allusions in Francis Poulenc’s Piano Improvisations

Abstract

The article is devoted to determination of various intertextual links between Francis Poulenc’s 15 piano improvisations and the music written by his favorite composers Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Chopin and others. The similarities between their works may be found at different levels from the use of typical elements of musical language (harmony, texture, melody) to the direct quotations of musical phrases and themes. Following the selected style is also evident in the keeping of composition’s specific structure. Some of improvisations include references to the styles of several authors. Poulenc’s own "word" manifests in free manipulation with musical styles and the endings of pieces on a colorful chord with altered and splitted tones going beyond the style model.

Keywords: Poulenc, intertextuality, intertext, quotation, allusion, improvisation, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Schubert