Introduction et Allegro B.21

Dinu Lipatti practiced his writing for wind instruments through a series of works that, while varying in scope and importance, reflect a clearly defined personal style. Influenced by his mentors Mihail Jora and Nadia Boulanger, Lipatti was also shaped by intellectual exchanges with colleagues such as Igor Markevitch and especially Jean Françaix, known for his refined exploration of wind timbres. His sources of inspiration were further enriched by George Enescu’s compositions, particularly the Dixtuor op. 14, a landmark work in the wind repertoire.

Although his compositional output was limited—his primary vocation being the piano—Lipatti’s interest in wind instruments is striking. Between 1936 and 1949, he wrote pieces such as Allegro for clarinet and bassoon, Introduction and Allegro for solo flute, Aubade for wind quartet, and arrangements of Domenico Scarlatti’s sonatas for wind trio and quintet. These works stand out for their originality and for synthesizing Romanian folk idioms, as taught by Jora, with the modern techniques of the 20th century, inspired by Bartók and Stravinsky.