Francis Poulenc: The Man, The Music, The Legacy
7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006
Webster Hall Auditorium
Admission: free

Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) ranks among the most important composers of the 20th century. Coming to prominence in 1920s Paris during a period of great social and cultural changes, he quickly established himself as one of the leaders of the circle that formed under the influence of Erik Satie. Virtually all of his compositions were performed in public during his lifetime, most to critical acclaim, and nearly all have been recorded again and again by the best interpreters. Poulenc was fortunate in forming his style early in his career, and, although he continued to develop and to refine that style to the last composition, he never really changed his basic approach. As much as any composer in the 20th century, Poulenc’s compositions reflect his personality, the personalities of those with whom he associated, and the French culture that spawned the music. This lecture examined the influences that formed musical style in Poulenc’s compositions and revealed ways in which he fulfilled the goals for French art and culture.

Dr. George Keck is a professor of music, chair of the Department of Music History and Literature, and director of the honors program at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark. He was awarded a Ph.D. in musicology from the University of Iowa and completed post-doctoral studies at Harvard University and Princeton University. Dr. Keck is the author of Francis Poulenc: A Bio-Bibliography and a frequent lecturer on French music, the composer Francis Poulenc, and 19th century American music.