Jean-François Michel

3 Etudes

The 3 Etudes by Jean-François Michel are an important virtuoso work for E-flat horn and piano. Conceived as a contrasting triptych, they explore the many expressive and technical facets of the instrument in a demanding dialog with the piano. I. Skizze opens the work with a concise and energetic tonal language in which fast passages, striking intervals and rhythmic precision paint an intense musical landscape. II. Farben unfolds a broad expressive palette with subtle timbres, extreme dynamics and long lyrical lines and demands absolute control of breath control and sound quality. Draft III concludes the work brilliantly with athletic and glamorous writing that combines agility, virtuoso articulation and rhythmic vitality. Of a very high level of difficulty, these etudes are aimed at advanced performers and represent a real technical and musical challenge which brings out the full expressive richness of the E-flat horn.