Chant de Linos is a work for flute and piano written by French composer André Jolivet in 1944 as a commission for a Paris Conservatoire competition which was subsequently won by Jean-Pierre Rampal.: He transcribed it for flute, violin, viola, cello and harp the same year. The piece has since become a staple of the modern flute repertoire.
Contents
Both versions last about 10 minutes.
Overview
Jolivet's musical ambition was to
give back to music its ancient and original character as the magic and incantational expression of human groups. Music should be a sonorous manifestation directly related to the universal cosmic system".
Ancient myths from around the world were one of his sources of inspiration. Thus, Chant de Linos is based on the mythological musician Linus, who taught music to Orpheus and Heracles. Jolivet described the work as an ancient Greek mourning chant consisting of laments interspersed with cries and dances. In the work, the laments are usually in 5/4 while a strongly accented ostinato in 7/8 sets the dance sections apart.
The piece is based on an archaïc sounding modal scale (G, A flat, B, C sharp, D and F). Although it is in one movement, it comprises several parts. After the improvisatory introduction, there are four main sections with variations, differing meters and tempos. They can be sketched as follows
The overall structure is AB A’B’ CD A’’B’’ C’.
The work displays a wide range of techniques including flutter-tonguing, extreme dynamic changes, and irregular phrases.
Selected Discography
Flute and Piano
Flute and Ensemble