Trois Croquis for Instrument and Piano

Trois Croquis, composed in 1990 for violin and piano as a set piece for the Charles De Bériot Competition, remains one of Michel Lysight’s most frequently performed works. Its enduring popularity has inspired the composer to create a wide range of versions. Initially, the violin part was transcribed for various instruments; this was followed by orchestrations of the piano part for string orchestra and clarinet ensemble, and eventually by arrangements for string quartet, quintet, and other chamber combinations.

Across its many iterations, Trois Croquis showcases the essential traits of Lysight’s musical language: melodic inventiveness, expressive lyricism, harmonic richness, and the subtlety of orchestration. These characteristics have made it a favourite among performers and audiences alike, and it has been widely recorded in a variety of forms.

The Brazilian première took place on 5 October 2013 during the 47th Festival Música Nova in Santos, performed by Duo Landum (Antonio Eduardo Santos, piano; José Simonian, flute).

Several recorded versions are available:

• Clarinet and piano – Enigma (Dux 0531)
• Clarinet and string quartet – Ritual (Kalidisc, 2006)
• Violin and piano – Labyrinthes (Cyprès 4602)
• Violin and string orchestra – De l’art d’écouter (Orchestre royal de Chambre de Wallonie)
• Viola and string quartet – Mendelssohn Ensemble (Contréclisse)
• Flute and piano – Oréades (René Gailly 87 111, out of print)
• Flute and piano – 20th Century Belgian Works for Flute and Piano (René Gailly, out of print)