Scaramouche

Suite for two pianos in three movements, Op. 165b (1937), Milhaud's most widely performed work. Originally incidental music for a production of Molière's Le Médecin volant at the Théâtre Scaramouche, the suite was arranged for two pianos in 1937 and immediately became a repertoire favourite. The three movements — Vif (Fast), Modéré (Moderate), and Brazileira (Mouvement de Samba) — showcase the range of Milhaud's gifts: the brilliant wit of the first movement, the lyrical melancholy of the second, and the irresistible rhythmic energy of the Brazilian-flavoured finale. The Brazileira is among the most exhilarating finales in the two-piano repertoire: a samba that builds to a cathartic, festive conclusion. Also exists in a celebrated version for alto saxophone and piano (Op. 165c).

The two pianists must achieve the chamber-music transparency of four independent voices — not two pianos playing together but four hands in constant conversation. In the Vif, the rhythmic clarity depends on precise coordination of syncopations between the two instruments. In the Modéré, the melody (in whichever hand carries it) must be clearly distinguished from the accompaniment. In the Brazileira, the samba rhythm should feel bodily and inevitable: rehearse the rhythm clapping hands before touching the keyboard, and find the forward momentum that makes the finale feel unstoppable.