Sonatine en Trio for Flute, Harp, and Cello

Jean-Michel Damase's Sonatine en Trio (1946), written when the composer was only seventeen and premiered the following year by his own trio, is an exquisite miniature of the French neo-classical chamber repertoire. Damase, later a student of Nadia Boulanger, captures the elegance and wit of the French salon tradition while infusing it with a youthful freshness; the three movements — a graceful Allegretto, a tender Andante, and a sparkling Finale — exploit the interplay between flute, harp, and cello with inspired economy. The harp writing balances delicate arpeggios with moments of crystalline clarity, while the cello adds warmth and grounding to the upper voices. Despite its modest scope, the Sonatine has become a staple of the French chamber repertoire and a popular recital work for harp-centered trios.