Ravel, La vallee des cloches (Miroirs)

[rachfan]

The Valley of the Bells is probably one of Ravel's most original and innovative compositions.  The entire suite, Miroirs, was composed in 1904-1905 and published in 1906 by Eschig.  Each piece in Mirors is dedicated to a different person.  La Vallee des cloches is dedicated to the French composer and pianist Maurice Delage.  The suite was first performed by Ricardo Vines on January 6, 1906 for the Societe Nationale de Musique at the Salle Erard in Paris.

[pianiststrongbad]

Hi.  I am familiar with this piece as I just  posted my recording about a month ago.  I think you play this really well.  My only complaint is that in the beginning the right hand is a bit too loud competitive with the bell like left hand (you may consider half pedaling because I think putting the pedal all the way down causes a lot of sound buildup).  The out of tune piano takes a bit from the recording, but disregarding that, you play this wonderfully.  Great job!

[rachfan]

Hi pianiststrongbad,

I'm glad you enjoyed my rendition of this piece, and thanks for your feedback.  Regarding the opening of the piece, I was mostly guided by Vlado Perlemuter's book, "Ravel According to Ravel".  You probably remember that Perlemuter studied Ravel's entire piano output with the composer.  In Bells there is that quiet cacophany going on in the right hand with the left hand pedal points sounding through it all.  Ravel's instruction to Perlemuter was to "Keep the pedal down".  Let go of it at the moment the Tres calme begins."  (That would be at measure 12.)  Given that, I admit that I was quite liberal with the pedal in that opening.  Thereafter, I was more concerned with clarity (half pedaling a lot) and voicing.  I'll be sure to go back and listen to your rendition too.  Thanks again!

[rachfan]

This is probably the most atmospheric of Ravel's piano works.  Comments welcome.