Maurice Ravel: Gaspard De La Nuit: Piano: Instrumental Work

Maurice Ravel's Gaspard De La Nuit is one of the most important Piano works of the 20th century and constitutes the height of the extension of the pianistic playing techniques and tonal possibilites which was already begun by Chopin and Liszt in the 19th century. The three movements Ondine Le Gibet and Scarbo are based on poems by Aloysius Bertrand which Ravel put in front of each of the three pieces. Thus too the work is in a tradition represented by composers such as Schumann and Liszt in the 19th century that combines instrumental music with literary models. For the new edition published by the Wiener Urtext Edition the editorsconsulted not only the first edition used almost exclusively up to now but also Ravel's autograph as well as his personal copy of the first edition on the basis of which numerous passages in the musical text could be corrected and brought closer to Ravel's original intention. In addition the editors included corrections from personal copies of various students of Ravel. Entries of the composer going well beyond mere text corrections and practical performance tips handed down by his students are analysed in the Notes of Interpretation. The reader-friendly large-format Wiener Urtext edition is completed by a trilingual glossary of the French performance instructions used by Ravel as well as English and German translations of Bertrand's three poems.

Ravel ranks as one of the most original French composers of his time. Along with Debussy he stands in the front rank of great modern composers for the piano and his piano music includes a number of masterpieces considered vital to the repertoire of any serious pianist. This volume includes 'Pavane pour une Infant Defunte' 'Sonatine' 'Jeux d'eau' 'Gaspard de la nuit' and 'Miroirs'.

Music Minus One Piano-Written in 1941 Maurice Ravel's piano trio was premiered on January 28 1915 in Paris with distinguished pianist Alfredo Casella playing the piano part. Filled with Basque themes and Ravel's unique impressionist effects the four-movement trio is a wonderful piece which is in its own way reminiscent at times of his famous Gaspard de la Nuit. Highly recommended for any devotée of the famous French composer. Includes a high-quality printed solo part and a compact disc containing a complete performance with soloist then a second version with the accompaniment minus you the soloist. Performed by Edwin Hymovitz piano Accompaniment: The Vardi Trio: Emanuel Vardi violin AlanShulman violoncello

Après Gaspard de la nuit, l?oeuvre pour piano de Ravel se distingue par un abandon d?une conception impressionniste de l?instrument. La sonorité pianistique devient plus sèche. Les Valses nobles et sentimentales marquent ce tournant avec une musique aux contours plus nets et aux harmonies plus crues. Ravel a souvent été stimulé par la musique des compositeurs qu?il admirait. Dans les deux courts pastiches A la manière de..., il montre ses talents de `faussaire` en saisissant, par delà l?esprit, les spécificités techniques du langage de chacun des deux musiciens. Le Prélude est une merveilleuse miniature qui offre en vingt-sept mesures une synthèse du style et de l?expression pleine de pudeur de l?art ravélien.

Si dans Le Tombeau de Couperin, Ravel voulait rendre hommage à l?origine à l?esprit de la musique française du XVIIIe siècle, les circonstances historiques firent que chacune des six pièces de cette suite se transforma en un hommage aux différents amis tombés sur le front pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. La version pour piano de La Valse reste encore trop méconnue des pianistes. Il s?agit de la première rédaction de l?oeuvre pour orchestre si célèbre. Cette partition reste la dernière écrite par Ravel pour le piano solo, / Classique / Partition /