Francaix, J :: Le Colloque des deux Perruches [The Conversation of Two Parakeets]

Le Colloque des deux Perruches [The Conversation of Two Parakeets] for flute and alto flute composed by Jean Francaix in 1989 is an advanced duet.

Les Colloque des Deux Perruches is comprised of six movements of equally virtuosic writing for the flute and alto flute. This scoring effectively portrays two parrots conversing due to the range differences, the alto flute pitched a perfect fourth below middle C. The opening Allegrissimo of this duet provides great opportunity for the introduction of both instruments as different entities. Interweaving semiquaver motifs are cleverly written in the relevant range to each instrument. Sadness is prevalent in the first Larghetto movement of this conversation between two parrots, denoted by its minor key. Semiquaver motives dart in and out of a light 3/8 texture in the following Scherzando movement. The Scherzando section draws to a close with witty grace note staccato quaver gestures marked L istesso Tempo. The silences between the notes and the extended silence before the alto flute s final utterance of the phrase create this comedy by subverting the expectations of the listener. The following section, marked Poetico, ma sempre in tempo, consists of light pianissimo semiquavers shared between the voices to create a constant line. The final conversation between these two parrots is a rollicking Allegro with interweaving parts in a fast march tempo. Again Francaix writes idiomatically for each instrument, the C flute written in the higher register, and the alto flute naturally a few octaves lower.

- Abby Bridgett Grace Fraser, 2011