Mouvements perpetuels

The term 'mouvement perpetuel' (perpetual motion) denotes a musical piece or passage of continuous rapid notes in a single, unwavering figuration. Poulenc's three pieces under this title (FP 14, 1918) are ironic applications of the form: rather than brilliant technical display, they use the ostinato texture to create a music of wry stasis, influenced by Satie's concept of 'furniture music' and the Dadaist aesthetic of the post-war Parisian avant-garde.

Maintain absolute rhythmic evenness throughout. The pieces' character depends on their refusal to 'develop' in a traditional sense. Resist the temptation to add expressive shape to individual phrases; the flatness IS the expression. Pedal sparingly.