Henri Dutilleux

Timbres Espaces Mouvements ou 'La Nuit Etoilee'

Composed in 1978 by Henri Dutilleux, Timbres, Espace, Mouvement Ou La Nuit Etoileé is a work for Orchestra, also named 'The Starry Night' after the painting by Van Gogh. It was commissioned by Mstislav Rostropovich for the National Symphony Orchestraof Washington and is dedicated to Charles Münch. This work for Orchestra lasts approximately 20 minutes and depicts the content of the painting. It is scored for a full Orchestra without Violins or Violas. The Cellos serve to represent space, with swirling solos alongside calmer sections, while thelack of Violins and Violas epitomises for the quiet and motionless sections of the painting. The solo of the Wind instruments and Drums characterizes the clouds and the light of the moon and stars. It is divided into two parts: 1. Nébuleuse (Nebula) and 2. Constellations, which are divided by a Cello interlude.