UCLA

Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) is one of the most significant and widely acclaimed composers of the last century. Dutilleux is best known for his approach towards orchestral timbre and color and his works exhibit an individual style that defies classification. This dissertation will be dedicated to exploring the interpretive issues presented in Henri Dutilleux’s composition for cello and orchestra, Tout un monde lointain... The quotations taken from Baudelaire’s poetry found in this score above each movement leave the performer with many unanswered interpretive questions. Through researching Dutilleux’s use of quotation in other scores, examining the intricacies of Baudelaire’s poetry and considering the existing publications pertaining to his concerto, one will be considerably better equipped to answer the varying questions sense of mystery raised by these quotations. Such analysis will aid one in interpreting and executing his concerto with a heightened understanding of Dutilleux’s musical language within the aesthetics and context he provides through his quotations of Baudelaire.