Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone

When was Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone written?

1922

Give 4 points about the structure of Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone:

• Modified Ternary form

• Exaggerated contrast between A and B sections

• Gap between A and B bridged by a linking section

• End of the first A section has a humorous codetta

How does Poulenc create a humorous codetta to the A section?

He augments the rhythm of the opening idea before putting it into the minor as he passes it between instruments

How did Poulenc bridge the gap between the A and B sections before the reprise of A?

By adding a linking passage that is similar to B in tonality but to A in general feel 

How does Poulenc exaggerate the difference between the A and B sections of his ternary form (3 points)?

• A modulation to a relatively distant key (Eb from G)

• A change of tempo

• A drastic change of mood from spiky to lyrical

Give 4 points about the melody and rhythm of Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone:

• Melodies are short and memorable in the classical vein

• The main idea is a simple descending triadic one 

• Largely regular phrasing

• The beginning motif undergoes a range of transformations 

• Touches of chromaticism

Give an example of a section that is very chromatic in Poulenc’s Trio:

The final coda

Give an example of how Poulenc transforms his beginning motif:

Rhythmic augmentation at the end of the A section. 

What is an example of when Poulenc doesn’t use regular phrasing?

The middle of the A section shifts between different meters, making the it much more irregular.

Give 5 points about the harmony and tonality of Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone:

• Mostly diatonic with lots of primary chords

• Extended harmonies and unorthodox dissonances

• Times of harmonic instability

• The tonal structure is unusual

• Use of unexpected modulations

Give an example of harmonic instability in Poulenc’s Trio:

The second part of the A section has sporadic implications of the minor key, particularly in the horn part

Give an example of an unexpected modulation in Poulenc’s Trio:

The end of the B section ends up briefly in Db major before suddenly modulating back to G for the A section reprise

Give an example of the unusual tonal structure of Poulenc’s Trio:

The modulation to Eb from G in the B section

Give an example of an unorthodox dissonance in Poulenc’s trio:

The cadence in bar 8

Where is there a particular use of primary chords and what is the chord progression?

• In the A section

• I - IV - V - I at opening

Give 4 points about the texture and sonority of Poulenc's Trio for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone:

• The instrumentation is an unusual combination

• There are also some strange uses of the instruments

• The texture is mostly melody and accompaniment

• Extensive use of doubling in sixths and thirds

What is an example of the extensive use of doubling in sixths and thirds in Poulenc’s Trio?

In the second part of the A section

What is an example of melody and accompaniment texture in Poulenc’s Trio?

Comic oom-pah accompaniment in the bridge section

What are 2 examples of an unusual use of the instruments in Poulenc’s Trio?

• The large leaps in the trumpet at the end of the B section

• The swapping of the horn and trombone roles, with the former taking on the bass part in the reprise of the A section