Maurice Ravel: An Introduction to Ravel: Bolero & Ma Mère L'oye Download MP3s

An Introduction to Ravel: Bolero & Ma Mère L'oye	Downloads
'Beast' (contra-bassoon) climbs ever higher handing over to bassoon proper
'Beast's theme' rises in pitch with each successive 'growl' (representing hope?)
'Beauty' 'Beast' and 'Caution' motifs all combine simultaneously
'Gamelan' music from flute and piccolo accompanied by harp xylophone and strings
'Motto' rhythm complete (instrumentation will change on each new hearing)
'Motto' rhythm dominates as intensity increases from lower strings to full orchestra
. . . and now its rhythmical mirro image or almost. . . .
. . . but then veers upwards slowing rhythm and introducting new syncopation
. . . oboe 'answers' with a very slightly varied version of Theme One
Again the 'Beast' growls; again the cautious warning 'Watch it! from the winds
Andwering Phrase 2: a near-inversion over 'James Bond' accompaniment
Answeing variant accompanied by plucked double basses
Arrival of Empress; upper strings yield to winds celeste harp and (very discreet) gong
Bells evoked by French horns; the final opulent moving climax of the whole suite
Bolero rhythm Part 2: an extended variation of Part 1
Boléro
But here we have snare drums and plucked violas and cellos
Changes of metre continue as solo oboe introduces Theme One
Characteristic pattern of two short phrases answered by a long one
Clarinet flutes and violas with 'sighing' figure derived from downward string motif
Continued
Cue to complete performance
Derivative of Beauty's Theme from flute combined with 'Caution motif' in strings
Expanded derivative of the 'telephone bell
Fear subsides as Theme Two returns again in Cor Anglais but now in a different key
Flute continues with part 2 of theme
Fragments of theme in flutes and cor anglais with 'James Bond' tag in violins
Further Reprise of Phrase 2 now on violin accompanied by harp
Further illustration of the same point
Harp's upward glide heralds the moment of transformation; love song fear release
Introduction of 'discordant' harp into the unfolding picture
Introduction; Opening (introductory) bars followed by Theme One
Introduction; Opening bars are unfurled by the strings alone
Introduction; Opening with multi-metre rising scales from muted violins
Introduction; cue to unadorned Bolero rhythm Part 1
Laideronnette Imperatrice des Pagodes
Le jardin feerique
Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete
Oboe yields to Cor Anglais for Theme Two against lover (still muted) strings
Opening figure on flute; rising falling and then repeated
Opening waltz theme from clarinet with important downward scale figure in strings
Oriental-orchestral equivalent of an imperial telephone bell
Pavane
Petit Poucet
Pivotal Phrase3 reversing direction but keeping rhythm of Phrase 2
Ravel's use of tone colour to change the feeling of the music
Reminder of opening figure
Reprise of Phrases 1 and 2 but with new accompaniment
Same again with emphasis on delicacy of scoring
Section 10: Theme: Oboes horns clarinets; Motto: plucked violas and violins
Section 11: Theme taken by First Trombone complete with jazzy slides
Section 12: Theme: flutes oboes clarinets sax; Motto: bassoons horns trumpets
Section 13: Violins at last take the main tune joining massed winds
Section 14: Violins divide into four proups each 'double-stopping.'
Section 15: Trumpet trombone 2 and tuba join the foreground
Section 16: First trombone and soprano saxophone 'rejoin' theme
Section 17: Fortissimo; all strings 'double-stopping'; trumpets added
Section 18: Entire orchestra now employed 'as loudly as possible'
Section 19: Sudden amazing change of key lurching from C to E major
Section 1: Introductin of 'the theme' (the only one in the piece) by solo flute
Section 20: Key now lurches back to C as jazzy trombones whiningly protest
Section 2: Complete statement of theme by clarinet as flute joins 'motto' group
Section 3: Bassoon intrudices closely related variant of theme
Section 4: 'Petite' E flat clarinet takes over theme including variants
Section 5: Oboe d'amore takes over theme but returns to its original form
Section 6: Theme now shared by two instruments: muted trumpet and flute
Section 7: Tenor saxophone takes Theme as trumpet replaces horn in 'motto'
Section 8: Theme taken by soprano saxophone 'espressivo'
Section 9: Theme: celeste piccolos and horn; Motto: flute and French horn
Sensational sound effects evoke a wood at night with screeches cuckooing etc.
Texture thins; Theme One returns delicately scored for strings and piccolo
The answer with a falling inflection: 'Gone is your childhood.'
The main part of movement ends with waltz-like march (!) featuring flute
The nobility of the strings
The plea: 'Bring back my child-hood!'
The question intensified: 'Oh where went . . . my childhood?"
The response: 'Seek in . . . your mem'ry. There it . . . will be.'
The rhythmic basis and its guises. First a question: 'Where went my childhood?"
Theme One returns shared by clarinet and flute; muted horn added to accopaniment
Varied reprise of opening entry of the 'Beast' (contra-bassoon); 'Watch it! Watch it!'

An Introduction to Ravel: Bolero & Ma Mère L'oye by Maurice Ravel