Name: Rapsodie Espagnole - Habanera by Ravel in Ravel
Duration: 1 min 52 s
Description: Rapsodie espagnole is an orchestral rhapsody written by Maurice Ravel. Composed between 1907 and 1908, the Rapsodie represents one of Ravel's first major works for orchestra.

Ravel

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, conductor

Schumann: Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129 (May 2011)

Like no other piece, the String Quartet in F-Major stands for Maurice Ravel's rise from obscurity to form his own musical language and break free from the comparisons to other impressionists, for example by including rhapsody and rhythmic basque dance music elements, especially in this second movement - Assez vif. Très rythmé. Although highly criticized and even rejected from the Paris Conservatiore in 1904, this chamber music composition today is one of the most popular pieces for the Quartet. 
During their appearance at the Queensland Conservatorium in September 2013, the award winning New Zealand String Quartet interpreted this masterpiece.

Maurice Ravel - String Quartet in F-Major - II. Assez Vif. Très Rythmé

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
André de Ridder, conductor
Inon Barnatan, piano
Jean Martinon, conductor

Ravel: Piano Concerto In G Major

Le tombeau de Couperin is a suite for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, composed between 1914 and 1917, in six movements based on those of a traditional Baroque suite. Each movement is dedicated to the memory of a friend of the composer (or in one case, two brothers) who had died fighting in World War I. 

 Le Tombeau De Couperin - Menuet is the 5th movement from the work and is dedicated in memory of Jean Dreyfus (at whose home Ravel recuperated after he was demobilized)

Le Tombeau De Couperin - Menuet

The Valses nobles et sentimentales is a suite of waltzes composed by Maurice Ravel. The piano version was published in 1911, and an orchestral version was published in 1912. 

The title was chosen in homage to Franz Schubert, who had released collections of waltzes in 1823 entitled Valses nobles and Valses sentimentales. The piano edition is published with a quotation of Henri de Régnier: "…le plaisir délicieux et toujours nouveau d'une occupation inutile" (the delicious and forever-new pleasure of a useless occupation).

Valses Nobles & Sentimentales Expt.

Ravel originally wrote Ma mère l'oye as a piano duet for the Godebski children, Mimi and Jean, ages 6 and 7. Ravel dedicated this work for four hands to the children (just as he had dedicated an earlier work, Sonatine, to their parents). 

Jeanne Leleu and Geneviève Durony premiered the work at the first concert of the Société Musicale Indépendante on 20 April 1910.

Ma Mére L'oye II - Petit Poucet

Jeux d’eau  is a piece for solo piano by Maurice Ravel. The title is often translated as "Fountains", "Playing water" or literally "Water Games" (see Jeux d'eau, water features in gardens). At the time of writing Jeux d'eau, Ravel was a student of Gabriel Fauré, to whom the piece is dedicated. 


Jeux D'eau

Rapsodie espagnole is an orchestral rhapsody written by Maurice Ravel. Composed between 1907 and 1908, the Rapsodie represents one of Ravel's first major works for orchestra.

Rapsodie Espagnole - Feria

Rapsodie Espagnole - Habanera

Rapsodie Espagnole - Prelude A La Nuit

La fille aux cheveux de lin is a musical composition by French composer Claude Debussy. It is the eighth piece in the composer's first book of Préludes, written between late 1909 and early 1910. The title is in French and translates roughly to "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair". The piece is 39 measures long and takes approximately two and a half minutes to play. It is in the key of G♭ major.

The piece, named after the eponymous poem by Leconte de Lisle, is known for its musical simplicity, a divergence from Debussy's style at the time. Completed in January 1910, it was published three months later and premiered in June of that same year. The prelude is one of the most recorded pieces of Debussy's, both in its original version and in subsequent various arrangements.

Claude Debussy - The Essential Collection

3 Prèludes, Livre 1: I. La fille aux cheveux de lin

Tidal

This is a track we help promote because we find it pleasant! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0J7EFptNh6K6Qebrsrcx8d?si=ae32df247fdd4a1d

Cloudwalker

Written in 1890, Debussy's Reverie was one of his first solo piano works to make an impact. Even at this early stage in his career, when he was still working out what kind of composer he wanted to be (he was apparently a fervent debater when it came to Wagnerism), it's clear to see traits of that signature Debussy sound.

However, the young Debussy had not quite developed the style and tricks that would earmark him as one of his generation's most notable talents. There are no fireworks here, no sudden explosions in texture that would come to characterise his later works - this is more of a meditation, the perfect precursor to exploring those later works.

The gently repetitive theme that opens the work feels like a descent into sleepy dream-world (as the title suggests), and as the textures become ever richer the dreams only become more lush and addictive. A fantastic early sign that this Debussy fellow was one to watch…

Source:

ClassicFM
http://www.classicfm.com/composers/debussy/music/debussy-reverie/

Retailers:

Debussy Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Claude-Debussy-Essential-Collection/dp/B00I6CEZQO/

Debussy Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/album/0Mmayh49XRWTXp53uf3jtF

Best of Debussy iTunes
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/claude-debussy-the-essential-collection/819582576

Debussy Compilation
https://listen.tidal.com/album/26275698

Claude Debussy
https://www.deezer.com/us/album/7429526

Best of Debussy Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXtAfPp-70I&t=76s

Napster
https://us.napster.com/artist/claude-debussy/album/claude-debussy-the-essential-collection

Tidal
https://listen.tidal.com/album/26275698

Also check out the very best in R&B & Pop Music 2020 from IndyPop Records!
www.youtube.com/c/indypoprecords

Rêverie, L.68

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - Arabesque No.1 in E major (c.1891)

Piano - Ryo Fukaura

Listen to more from UCL's Chamber Music Club here: 
https://soundcloud.com/uclsound/sets/ucl-chamber-music-club

UCL is consistently ranked as one of the world's top universities. Across all disciplines our faculties are known for their research-intensive approaches, academic excellence and engagement with global challenges. This is the basis of our world-renowned degree programmes. Visit us at www.ucl.ac.uk.

Debussy: Arabesque No.1 in E major (Ryo Fukaura, University College London)

Yuja Wang | Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor Op. 16

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937)
Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist, and conductor, celebrated as one of the most prominent and innovative figures of the early 20th century. Born on March 7, 1875, in Ciboure, France, Ravel’s music is known for its exquisite craftsmanship, vivid orchestration, and seamless blend of classical tradition with modernist innovation.

Often associated with Impressionism alongside Claude Debussy, Ravel’s style is distinct, marked by clarity, elegance, and a fascination with diverse musical influences, from jazz to Spanish folk music. His most famous works include Boléro, a mesmerizing orchestral piece renowned for its hypnotic repetition and gradual crescendo, Daphnis et Chloé, a lush ballet score, and Pavane pour une infante défunte, a poignant and graceful piano composition. Ravel’s Rhapsodie espagnole and Gaspard de la nuit further demonstrate his mastery of orchestration and virtuosity in piano writing.

Ravel was also a pioneer of orchestral arrangement, as evidenced by his celebrated orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, which remains one of the most performed and recorded versions of the work. His keen attention to detail and innovative use of harmony and rhythm have made his compositions a cornerstone of both the classical and modern repertoire.

Despite his relatively small output compared to some of his contemporaries, Ravel's influence on music is immense. His works continue to captivate audiences with their beauty, sophistication, and emotional depth. A perfectionist, Ravel was known for revising his works extensively, ensuring that every note served its purpose. He remained active as a composer and conductor until a neurological condition in his later years curtailed his creative output. Ravel passed away on December 28, 1937, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and listeners around the world.

The Maurice Ravel profile on SoundCloud is dedicated to celebrating his extraordinary contributions to classical music. Featuring a wide range of interpretations, from intimate piano solos to grand orchestral pieces, the profile offers listeners an immersive journey into Ravel’s rich and diverse musical world.

Rapsodie Espagnole - Habanera

Ravel

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