Lutoslawski's Approach to Sound Masses And Form In Livre Pour Orchestre

Abstract

This paper deals with some of Lutoslawski’s ideas and principles concerning the use of sound masses as agents of a musical discourse and a musical form essentially traditional and linear. Attention is given to the way the composer integrates the sound masses within what he calls ‘closed form.’ Throughout, the composer’s poetics (his words about his own music) are taken as reference. It will also explore the way Lutoslawski materializes his ideas in the composition Livre pour Orchestre (1968). Keywords: Witold Lutoslawski; Sound masses; Musical discourse; Closed form; Livre pour Orchestre; Edgard Varèse.