Suite montreusienne

The “Suite montreusienne” was composed in 1988 at the request of the Nouvel Orchestre de Montreux and its conductor, my son András Farkas.

The first movement, “En route,” (On the way) is a dynamic opening, followed by “Promenade d’automne” (Autumn walk), which evokes the falling of leaves in autumn. In the middle can be heard a few bars of the famous “Le vigneron monte à sa vigne” (The vinedresser climbs to his vineyard), a song inseparable from Montreux. Next comes a “Danse en costumes anciens” (Dance in early costumes), a minuet in the style of traditional Montreux folk dances. The fourth movement, “Souvenirs de jeunesse” (Memories of Youth), reflects my impressions from a stay I spent in the Montreux region in 1929. — Ferenc Farkas