Concerto for Flute and String Orchestra (1949)

Cello Concerto No. 2 (1966)

Concerto for Bassoon, String Orchestra, Harp and Piano (1954)

Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

Symphony No. 1

Five Ritual Dances

Rhapsody for Seven

“I want music to have its original ancient sense back, when it was an expression of a magical and invocating element of a religion which united people”, Jolivet wrote.

He was born in Paris to a family of an artist and a pianist, and became known as a member of the composers’ group La jeune France (Young France), which also included Olivier Messiaen. Edgard Varèse, one of the biggest master of musical avant-garde, was Jolivet’s teacher. Arnold Schoenberg’s works also had a certain influence on the young composer.

Jolivet’s works combined diverse features of 20th century art – on the one hand, new musical means (polytonality, atonality), echoes of jazz and non-European musical cultures and, on the other hand, choral polyphony of the renaissance era, and also clarity and accuracy of statement not devoid of theatrical affectation so characteristic of French art.

André Jolivet’s works are performed by well-known Soviet and Russian musicians such as Mstislav Rostropovich (cello), Alexander Korneyev (flute), Valery Popov (bassoon) and others.