Guillou - Scenes d'Enfant Op. 28 for Organ, 40 Pages, Published by Schott Music

Though the work bearing this title is a portrait of childhood it is a childhood quite different from the purely gameplaying and dreamlike childhood that is customarily represented. The childhood described here is carrying the seed in all its purity of all positive and negative qualities to be found the fully-grown men: a childhood both angelic and diabolical and indeed very close to Henry James' "The Turn of the Screw" which was the direct inspiration for this monodrama. Its growth follows the innumerable sudden changes turns and contrasts of the unsophisticated spirit. There is hardly any development at all as each idea gives birth to the next or rejects the previons one being object to every impulse every tempest every flux every fear and delight. After a dreamlike introduction in which two simple melodies stand out comes a sudden awakening Allegro stamped all over with lavish and forever regenerating dynamism. A sudden halt leads a kind of outburst from the most simple folklore is singing in regular repeated notes. Again the question mark leads us to another melody Tranquillo of a sweet tempo but brilliantly decorated with counter-point its cursive traits leading this time to a kind of roguish march (Vigoroso). Yet soon there emerges a melancholic chant Largo in the Cromorne's timbre and then in the highest register of the Trumpet there reappears like a metamorphosed memory the theme of the second movement. Passing other episodes we come to Tempo giusto insistent and glorious interrupted by other passionate figures cut off by unsettling silent moments and taken up again in always accelerating volleys. Scenes d'Enfant Op. 28 Composer: Jean Guillou Publisher: Schott Music Instrument: Organ Pages: 40