Bitonality
en universal
Definition
The simultaneous use of two different keys or tonal centres. Poulenc (like his colleague Milhaud) used bitonality as a routine harmonic resource, superimposing harmonies that suggest different key areas to create a characteristic 'Frenchness' — a shimmer of modal ambiguity without full atonality. In Poulenc's music, bitonality tends to be gentle and atmospheric rather than acerbic.
Interpretive Guidance
Do not try to 'smooth over' bitonal clashes; Poulenc wrote them intentionally as colour. At the same time, they should not sound like wrong notes: the ear adjusts quickly when the rhythm and phrasing are clear. Highlight the voice that carries the main melodic line and let the bitonal colouring remain in the harmonic background.