Retrouvailles

Retrouvailles for piano, commissioned by the Royal Festival Hall in London, was written to celebrate the birthday of my friend, Pierre Boulez, March 26, 2000. The score returns to the motto used in my Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux I (for his 60th birthday) and Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux II (for his 70th). Retrouvailles begins by recalling the end of Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux II and ends by recalling the opening of Esprit I. I hope this work gives some small suggestion of the great admiration I have for this extraordinary musician.

Elliott Carter, 2000

Reproduction Rights
This programme note can be reproduced free of charge in concert programmes with a credit to the composer