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- Milhaud, Darius
Duration: 6 minutes
Description: Darius Milhaud (1892–1974) composed his SYMPHONIES FOR SMALL ORCHESTRA, No. 4: DIXTUOR À CORDES, Op. 74 (Chamber Symphony No. 4) in 1921, continuing the series of compact symphonies for chamber forces that he began with LE PRINTEMPS (1917), PASTORALE (1918), and SÉRÉNADE (1921). Scored uniquely for ten solo strings, the work explores a wide palette of sonorities within its lean instrumentation, combining contrapuntal clarity with Milhaud’s characteristic harmonic freshness and rhythmic vitality. Today, although not as widely performed as his later large-scale symphonies, the DIXTUOR À CORDES remains admired for its inventive textures, economy of means, and elegant craftsmanship, offering chamber orchestras a distinctive example of Milhaud’s early symphonic voice. Instrumentation: Soli Str (4Vns.2Va.2Vc.2CB). Reprint edition.