NEW

Meet members: players and listeners near you, three picks a day. Say hello →Rhapsodle, the daily game: hear 20 seconds, pick the piece. Play today’s →

Rhapsodate

Chamber music by difficulty

Ibert: Trois pièces brèves

Winds and brass · about 6–8 minutes

Ibert: Trois pièces brèves

Three short, witty pieces, bright and fun to play, with real technical demands in the outer movements. A good choice for a wind quintet that has read a few classical quintets together.

Advanced

For flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Players

flute, oboe, clarinet, horn and bassoon

Difficulty

Advanced, judged by the hardest part

Length

About 6–8 minutes

Written

1930

Also known as

3 Pièces brèves · Three Short Pieces · Ibert wind quintet

Score and parts

IMSLP page. IMSLP lists it as public domain in the US and Canada, but not in the EU.

Part by part

The piece is rated by its hardest part. Here is how each part compares, so a group can see who will need to practise most.

Flute

Quick figures in the outer movements and the upper voice of the slow duet with the clarinet.

Advanced

Oboe

The star of the first movement, with a lot of exposed, quick playing.

Advanced

Clarinet

Shares the slow movement’s duet with the flute and has fast, agile writing in the finale. Part for B-flat clarinet.

Advanced

Horn

Mostly chords and rhythm. Less exposed than the others, but it needs a light touch to fit the style.

Intermediate

Bassoon

Quick bass lines in the outer movements that need to be crisp and in time.

Advanced

The movements

I. Allegro. Bright dissonant chords and a busy oboe part, pressing forward to the end. Agree how much to speed up.

II. Andante. A short, gentle movement built on a duet for flute and clarinet. The easiest place to start.

III. Assez lent – Allegro scherzando – Vivo. A slow mock fanfare, then a fast, playful scherzo that ends even faster. Watch the tempo changes.

Reading it together for the first time

Start with the Andante, then the finale, and leave the first movement for when you’re warmed up.

IMSLP has the Leduc score and parts with Ibert’s metronome marks. Note the copyright: IMSLP lists it as public domain in Canada and the US but not in countries with life-plus-70 copyright, such as the EU, where you should buy the Leduc parts.

Read the outer movements below the marked tempo first; the speeding-up at the ends is where groups come apart.

At about seven minutes, it fits easily alongside a longer quintet in the same session.

About the piece

Ibert wrote this music in 1930 for a Paris stage production of Le Stratagème des roués, a French version of George Farquhar’s comedy The Beaux’ Stratagem, staged by Charles Dullin at the Théâtre de l’Atelier that March. The theatre’s resources were small, so Ibert scored it for wind quintet. As soon as the play’s run ended, he took three numbers from the score and turned them into a concert set, keeping the same five instruments.

Leduc published it in Paris in 1930. The whole set lasts about seven minutes: a lively, crunchy opening that features the oboe, a tender duet for flute and clarinet, and a finale that starts with a mock fanfare before a fast scherzo.

Hear it live

No performances in New York, Boston, the Bay Area or Los Angeles on our listings right now. We update them every week.

What to play next

Farkas · Early Hungarian Dances from the 17th Century

An easier set of short dances for the same five players, good for a warm-up.

Intermediate

Danzi · Wind Quintet in G minor, Op. 56 No. 2

One level easier, a classical quintet for the same group.

Intermediate

Reicha · Wind Quintet in E-flat, Op. 88 No. 2

Same level, longer and in an older style, with plenty for every player.

Advanced

Nielsen · Wind Quintet, Op. 43

The step up: a longer, more varied quintet for the same five players.

Very demanding

Barber · Summer Music, Op. 31

Another step up for the same five, and a good contrast in style.

Very demanding

More in the full list by difficulty, or browse:

Wind and brass ensembles Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon Horn

Find people to play it with

Create your profile from this page and the piece is added for you as one you’d like to play; say whether it’s just for fun or for a performance. Members near you who want the same piece show up in your daily picks on People, and you can say hello. Need a room? See practice rooms in New York, Boston, the Bay Area and Los Angeles, and our notes on meeting safely.

Find your music partners

Say what you play and what you’d love to play, then find players or concert company.

Create your profile

Free · wherever you live

This week in classical music, every Thursday

Your city’s concerts for the week, plus livestreams and radio from anywhere. Just your email; unsubscribe any time.

New York

Boston

Bay Area

Los Angeles

Anywhere else

Levels are Rhapsodate’s own rough guide, not an exam grade. Facts checked 2026-10-03 against:

IMSLP: movements, first edition (Leduc, 1930), score and parts, copyright status

Palazzetto Bru Zane: origin in Le Stratagème des roués, 1930 production

Woodwind5: why a wind quintet, length, the three movements

St. Louis Symphony: first heard in a Paris theatre production, March 1930; about seven minutes

Rhapsodate

Find your classical music partners, wherever you live: people to play chamber music with, and company for concerts.

Something not working, or an idea? Report a problem or suggest a feature. We read every message. Or email support@rhapsodate.com.

Concert listings

New York Boston San Francisco Bay Area Los Angeles

Play

Rhapsodle, the daily game

Guides

Chamber music by difficulty Watch and listen from anywhere Wherever you live Meeting safely

Rhapsodate

Create your profile Report a problem Suggest a feature For music organizations Privacy Terms

Listings come from presenters’ own sites, our partners and members, and are updated every week.

Problem or idea?