Analysis of non tonal musics without formalist principles – the example of Henri Dutilleux

Abstract

This paper raises the question of the choice of analytic strategies in the case of non
tonal musics devoid of any a priori link with a formalist way of thinking. The
author chose the music of Henri Dutilleux, decrypting it on the basis of the intrinsic
axiom of his work, the balance between mystery and limpidity. Surveying dominant
characteristics of representative melodies, one may define a set of strategies
common to melody and harmony. The orchestral piece Timbres, espace, mouvement
is analysed to this end