Francis Poulenc's Trois mouvements perpétuels (1918) consist of three short piano pieces that contain many of the composer's hallmarks—principally, a crisp, genial style and piquant harmonies. On the surface, all are relaxed, amiable tunes, but a certain sense of unease lies beneath their apparent simplicity. In the first, marked "En general sans nuances" (generally without expression), the melody is placed over a continuously repeated bass line. The second, oddly marked "indifferent," is rather sad. The third is fast, lively, and syncopated, with overtones of cabaret; even in such a setting, though, the feeling is far from festive.



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