Renaud François - s/t (1988)

Hour-long overview of French composer and flautist Renaud François (b. 1943), in what appears to be the only album fully dedicated to his music.  François has played extensively as both a solo flautist and as a member of Ensemble 2E2M, who play his compositions here, first on ...Un Regard Oblique... (1983), with its interweaving flute solos as a combination of trombones and tubular bells flesh out the tonal colours.  A solo piano piece, Deuxième Récit (1986) is next, played by its dedicatee Carlos Roqué Alsina.

Sonnet (1983) puts to music a verse by sixteenth century poet Pontus De Tyard, with an interesting combination of bass voice, piano and tuba.  François' work for wind instruments is highlighted in the next two pieces: the ensemble seascape Reflets II (1978) which includes an incredible percussion crescendo, and flute duet Tu/Les Ecoutes (1976).  The album ends with its longest work, Les Chemins De La Nuit (1984) for cello and orchestra, with more percussive fireworks and engrossing layers of tonal shading.  Wish there was more music by François available, this is all good stuff.

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