8 x 8: Variations on a Theme by Milhaud
Douglas Townsend
About this work:
A small piece of the 30 minutes of music commissioned by Hans Richter for his classic surrealist film "8 x 8: A Chess Sonata for Film," directed, produced, written and designed by Hans Richter, "with the aid of Jean Cocteau." The movie premiered in Manhattan at the Fifth Avenue Cinema in March of 1957, with simultaneous premieres in Paris and Hollywood. (NYTimes 3/16/57) (NYPost 3/17/57). This piece, "Variations on a Theme of Milhaud," world broadcast premiered on WNYC in February of 1957, before the film opened. The melody of this composition was based on a theme suggested for the movie by the composer Darius Milhaud. The music is tuneful and interesting, both harmonically and melodically. The version with recorder was premiered in the mid-1950s by the virtuoso recorder player Lanoue Davenport. The flute version has been performed professionally numerous times. Published by C.F. Peters.
Year composed: 1955
Duration: 00:04:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Trumpet, 1 Piano, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: May substitute a piccolo or soprano recorder for flute; a clarinet or oboe for trumpet;
and a bassoon for cello.