Witold Lutosławski Little Suite
Witold Lutoslawski Little Suite Program Notes
Fife (Allegretto) Hurrah Polka (Vivace) Son (Andante) Dance (Allegro molto) Witold Lutoslawski Little Suite, with its infectious energy and folk-inspired themes, was one of the most frequently performed works in 1950s Poland, and its melodies are drawn the town of Machowa, an hour’s drive east of Kraków, and 30 minutes from Slovakia. In the first movement, the strings emerge from under the infectiously cheery piccolo melody, delivering punchy rhythms, a reference to the Rite of Spring, still as yet to receive its Polish premiere in the 1950s! The second movement is a polka, with a humorously unsettled meter. The third, Song, passes its melody between instruments in a charming way. The final dance includes music for a regional dance and a popular song. Witold Lutoslawski Born: January 25, 1913, Warsaw, Poland Died: February 7, 1994, Warsaw, PolandThe Little Suite is a short, charming orchestral work by Witold Lutosławski, composed in 1950 and based on Polish folk melodies. It is one of his most accessible and frequently performed early works.
Lutosławski composed the Little Suite in 1950, and it was premiered the same year. It was originally written for chamber orchestra and later arranged for full orchestra.
A typical performance lasts approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
Listen for the folk-inspired melodies that give each of the four short movements a distinct character — playful, lyrical, dance-like, and energetic in turn. Lutosławski's orchestration is light and transparent, allowing the folk tunes to shine clearly.
The Little Suite was composed during a period when Communist authorities in Poland required composers to write in a folk-influenced style accessible to ordinary people. Lutosławski embraced this requirement with genuine creativity, producing a work that is delightful rather than merely dutiful.
