Esquisses sur les 7 Péchés Capitaux, Op. 83

Description

This 1954 piano suite, Esquisses sur les sept péchés capitaux, offers seven brief character pieces, each representing one of the traditional seven deadly sins. The titles—Pride, Envy, Sloth, Avarice, Lust, Gluttony, and Wrath—suggest both moral allegory and satirical intent.

Each miniature, lasting around one to two minutes, adopts a distinct tempo and texture to evoke its subject. For instance, Pride is cast as a pompous march, Sloth unfolds slowly and languidly, and Wrath explodes with virtuosic, dissonant intensity. Though Absil employs modern harmonic language and shifting metres, the overall structure remains clear and tightly focused.

The suite has been compared in spirit to Satie’s or Milhaud’s miniatures, balancing elegance with caricature. Likely premiered in Brussels shortly after its composition, the work received modest acclaim for its wit and variety. Pianist Daniel Blumenthal’s 2011 recording (Fuga Libera) brought the suite wider recognition, earning praise for its charm and psychological acuity.