An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The nobility of the strings

Jeremy Siepmann

Classics Explained: Ravel - Bolero and Ma Mere L'Oye (Smillie)

45 SECONDI • JUL 16 2001

Lista brani dell'album

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Bolero-Introduction; cue to unadorned Bolero rhythm, Part 1

02:29

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Bolero rhythm, Part 2: an extended variation of Part 1

00:07

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ' Motto ' rhythm complete

00:21

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: But here we have snare drums and plucked violas and cellos

00:22

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 1: Introduction of ' the theme ' by solo flute

00:37

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Flute continues with Part 2 of theme

00:49

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 2: Complete statement of theme by clarinet as flute joins ' motto ' group

01:30

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Introduction of ' discordant ' harp into the unfolding picture

00:18

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 3: Bassoon introduces closely related variant of theme

00:34

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ...but then veers upwards, slowing rhythm and introducing new syncopation

00:59

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 4: ' Petite ' E flat clainet takes over theme, including variants

01:21

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 5: Oboe d'amore takes over theme but returns to its original form

01:34

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 6: Theme now shared by two instruments: uted trumpet and flute

01:16

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 7: Tenor saxophone takes Theme as trumpet replaces horn in ' motto '

01:39

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 8: Theme taken by soprano saxphone, ' espressivo '

01:09

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 9: Theme: celeste, piccolos and horn; Motto: flute and French horn

01:24

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 10: Theme: Oboes, horns, clarinets; Motto: plucked violas and violins

02:06

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 11: Theme taken by First Trombone, complete with jazzy slides

01:40

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 12: Theme: flutes, oboes, clarinets, sax; Motto: bassoons, horns, trumpets

01:13

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 13: Violins at last take the main tune, joining massed winds

01:14

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 14: Violins divide into four groups, each ' double-stopping '

01:04

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 15: Trumpet, trombone 2 and tuba join the foreground

01:18

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 16: First trombone and soprano saxophone ' rejoin ' theme

00:56

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 17: Fortissimo; all strings ' double-stopping '; trumpets added

01:26

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 18: Entire orchestra now employed, ' as loudly as possible '

01:18

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 19: Sudden, amazing change of key, lurching from C to E Major

01:21

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Section 20: Key now lurches back to C, as jazzy trombones whiningly protest

00:36

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Cue to complete performance

00:20

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Bolero (complete)

16:16

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant-Opening figure on flute; rising, falling, and then reeated

01:04

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Same again, with emphasis on delicacy of scoring

00:30

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: answering variant, accompanied by plucked double basses

00:19

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Reminder of opening figure

00:18

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ... and now its rhythmical mirror image, or almost...

00:12

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Answering Phrase 2: a near-inversion, over ' James Bond ' accompaniment

00:41

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Pivotal Phrase 3, reversing direction but keeping rhythm of Phrase 2

00:46

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Reprise of Phrases 1 and 2, but with new accompaniment

00:39

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Further Reprise of Phrase 2, now on violin, accompanied by harp

00:40

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Pavane (complete)

01:41

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb)-Introduction; Opening, with multi-metre rising scales from muted violins

00:49

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Change of metre continue as solo oboe introduces Theme One

00:24

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Oboe yields to Cor Anglais for Theme Two, against lower (still muted) strings

00:44

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Theme One returns, shared by clarinet and flute, muted horn added to accompaniment

00:25

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: 'Motto' rhythm dominates as intensity increases from lower strings to full orchestra

00:46

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Fear subsides as Theme Two returns, again in Cor Anglais but now in a different key

00:32

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Sensational sound effects evoke a wood at night, with screeches, cuckooing etc.

00:44

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Texture thins; Theme one returns, delicately scored for strings and piccolo

00:19

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The main part of movement ends, with waltz-like march(!), featuring flute

00:28

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Petit Poucet (complete)

03:28

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes-Introduction; opening bars, followed by Theme One

02:00

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Oriental-orchestral equivalent of an imprial telephone bell

00:15

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ... oboe ' answers ' with a very slightly varied version of Theme One

00:15

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Expanded derivative of the ' telephone bell ' interrupts the theme again

01:00

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Fragments of theme in flutes and cor anglais, with ' James Bond ' tag in violins

00:24

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: 'Gamelan ' music from flute and piccolo, accompanied by harp, xylophone and strings

00:32

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: arrival of Empress; upper strings yield to winds, celeste, harp and (very discreet) gong

00:47

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes (complete)

03:57

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete- opening

00:51

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Characteristic pattern of two short phrases answered by a long one

00:36

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Clarinet, flutes and violas, with ' sighing' figure derived from downward string motif

00:21

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Varied reprise of opening, entry of the ' Beast '; ' Watch it ! Watch it ! '

00:32

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Again the ' Beast ' growls; again the cautious warning ' Watch it ! ' from the winds

00:40

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Derivative of Beauty's Theme from flute, combined with ' caution motif ' in strings

00:38

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ' Beast's theme ' rises in pitch with each successive ' gowl ' (representing hope?)

00:52

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ' Beauty ', ' Beast ' and ' Caution ' motifs all combine simultaneously

01:12

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: ' Beast ' (contra-bassoon) climbs ever higher, handing over to bassoon proper

00:49

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Harp's upward glide heralds the moment of transformation; love song, fear, release

02:09

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete (complete)

04:14

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Le jardin feerique-Introduction; Opening bars are unfuuuuuuuuurled by the strings alone

00:40

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The rhythmic basis, and its guises. First, a question: ' Where went my childhood?'

01:23

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The question intensified:' Oh where went ... my childhood?'

00:15

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The answer, with a falling inflection: ' Gone is your childhood.'

00:20

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The plea: ' Bring back my childhood!'

00:14

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The response: ' Seek in ... your mem'ry. There it ... will be.'

00:25

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Ravel's use of tone colour to change the feeling of the music

00:49

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Further illustration of the same point

00:27

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Continued

01:44

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The nobility of the strings

00:45

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Bells evoked by French horns; the final, opulent, moving climax of the whole suite

01:11

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: Le jardin feerique (complete)

04:00

Classics Explained: Ravel - Bolero and Ma Mere L'Oye (Smillie)

00:00

Classics Explained: Ravel - Bolero and Ma Mere L'Oye (Smillie)

An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye: The nobility of the strings