Arthur Honegger’s Blues (de Roses de métal), H. 66a is an orchestral transcription dating from around 1928, salvaged from his lost ballet Roses de métal (H. 66). Cast as a standalone concert piece, it preserves the original’s jazzy, urban character in a concise, single-movement format.

Honegger employs muted strings and light woodwind interjections to evoke the smoky, syncopated feel of early jazz, with the flute often leading the principal melody against a pulsating pizzicato backdrop.

Stylistically, the piece blends Honegger’s modernist sensibilities—sharp rhythmic accents and unexpected harmonic shifts—with popular idioms of the era. The transparent orchestration and brisk pacing make Blues a vivid miniature that bridges classical technique and contemporary “Blues” color.