The Ballets Of Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel, as composer and scenario writer, collaborated with some of the greatest ballet directors, choreographers, designers and dancers of his time, including Diaghilev, Ida Rubinstein, Benois and Nijinsky. In this book, the first study dedicated to Ravel's ballets, Deborah Mawer explores these relationships and argues that ballet music should not be regarded in isolation from its associated arts. Indeed, Ravel's views on ballet and other stage works privilege a synthesized aesthetic. The first chapter establishes a historical and critical context for Ravel's scores, engaging en route with multimedia theory. Six main ballets from Daphnis et Chlo hrough to Bol are considered holistically alongside themes such as childhood fantasy, waltzing and neoclassicism. Each work is examined in terms of its evolution, premiere, critical reception and reinterpretation through to the present; new findings result from primary-source research, undertaken especially in Paris. The final chapter discusses the reasons for Ravel's collaborations and the strengths and weaknesses of his interpersonal relations. Mawer emphasizes the importance of the performative dimension in realizing Ravel's achievement, and proposes that the composer's large-scale oeuvre can, in a sense, be viewed as a balletic undertaking. In so doing, this book adds significantly to current research interest in artistic production and interplay in early twentieth-century Paris.

Maurice Ravel: A Research and Information Guide is an annotated bibliography concerning both the nature of primary sources related to the composer and the scope and significance of the secondary sources which deal with him, his compositions, and his influence as a composer and theorist.

Handsome, affordable treasury features Pavane pour une infante défunte, Jeux d'eau, Sonatine, Miroirs, Menuet antique, Gaspard de la nuit, more. Influential works belong in the repertoire of every serious pianist.

BOLERO THE LIFE OF MAURICE RAVEL by MADELEINE GOSS. Contents include: CHAPTER PAGE I. Bolero 1 II. Childhood on the Basque Coast . . 14 III. The Paris Conservatory in Ravel's Time 26 IV. He Begins to Compose .... 37 V. Gabriel Faure and His Influence on Ravel 48 VI. Failure and Success .... 62 VII. Les Apaches 74 VIII. The Music of Debussy and Ravel . . 87 IX. The Stories from Nature ... 100 X. The Lure of Spain 114 XL Ma Mere VOye 128 XII. Daphnis and Chloe 142 XIII. The Great Year of Ballets ... 156 XIV. Ravel Fights for France .... 170 XV. The Child and the Sorceries . . 185 XVI. Ravel's Home at Montfort-l'Amaury . 203' XVII. Concerts in America .... 216 XVIII. Last Compositions . 233 vii CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE XIX. Simple, sans remords, . . . 248 XX. Finale 258 Acknowledgments 263 List of Ravel's Compositions . . . 265 Recordings of Ravel's Works . . 275 Bibliography 283 Source Notes 285 General Index 293 Index of Ravel's Compositions . . 301 Vlll ILLUSTRATIONS Maurice Ravel frontispiece Ravel directing Bolero 1 Ravel's baptismal certificate .... 18 Marie Eluarte Ravel 20 Joseph Ravel 20 Ravel's birthplace 20 Maurice Ravel and his brother, Edouard . . 21 Ricardo Vines 52 Gabriel Faure 53 A group of Prix de Rome contestants ... 64 Ravel with his famous beard .... 65 Vines and Ravel 78 A letter from Ravel to Vines .... 79 The gateway to Le Belvedere .... 104 One of Ravel's scores 105 Le Belvedere from the garden .... 120 Teatime on the balcony 121 Rooftops Montfort-PAmaury .... 134 ix ILLUSTRATIONS RavePs writing-table 135 Zizi, Ravel's mechanical bird . 135 Ravel lifts his mask 158 Edouard Ravel 168 The piano in Ravel's study 169 The bedroom at Le Belvedere .... 169 Ravel as a soldierduring the World War . . 174 Ravel's study in the home of M. and Mme Bonnet 174 The bedroom and bar, designed by Leon Leyritz 175 A corner of Ravel's modern bedroom . . .175 Mme Reveleau, Ravel's faithful bonne . . . 206 The villa at Montfort-l'Amaury .... 207 Ravel with his Siamese kitten, Mouni . . 212 At Biarritz with Mme Jourdan-Morhange and M. Vines 212 A later portrait of Ravel 240 At St Jean-de-Luz with Mme Marguerite Long . 240 Back to France from the United States . . . 241 Going over a score with Jacques Fevrier . . 254 Death-sketch by Luc-Albert Moreau . . . 254 Ravel's tomb in Levallois-Perret .... 255.

A comprehensive introduction to the life, music and compositional aesthetic of Maurice Ravel.

This first comprehensive study unites musical, literary, documentary and cultural perspectives to shed new light on Ravel's compositional practice.

One of the most beloved ballets of the 20th century, Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé tells the story of two young lovers in ancient Greece, as they navigate the challenges of jealousy, betrayal, and ultimately, reconciliation. Filled with lush orchestration and intricate, sensual choreography, this ballet is a feast for the senses. This book includes a complete libretto and behind-the-scenes insights into the creative process. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.