Ravel - Sonatine, I. Modéré, updated

[rallestar]

Here's the first upload by me, a recording of the first movement of Ravels Sonatine - I hope you like it!

Scroll down for the recording

[pianowolfi]

Ahhh isn't this a wonderful piece? I think you got a lot of it already. All in all I think you might play it a bit smoother and not toooo "literally". of course the score is very important. But sometimes I would like to listen a bit more to a chord until it disappears, sometimes a transition is very abrupt, sometimes some sixteenth notes are not enough distinct like in m. 5, second of the sixteenths. One wishes to dream more It is such a dreamy atmosphere, sometimes it gets (a bit accidentally) interrupted by something. I like very much how you come out at 2.51, this shows YOUR interpretation I also like your ending very much

[rallestar]

Thanks for your comments! I definitely agree - Listening to the recording again, it sounds somewhat sharp and disconnected in places. Part of it, I think, may be because I recorded it on my digital piano. I'll try and get a recording on my upright, although that might harm the sound quality :s

The paradox of dreaminess vs. refined elegance is interesting in this piece though, because as with all Ravel, I feel you have to play close to the score, but still leave room for the special impressionistic feel. But the recording I posted is in retrospect too "sharp" - In lack of a better word.

[rallestar]

Here's a new recording, more dreamy now, hopefully.

[pianowolfi]

You could have left the first recording here, you know, it was not bad in my book Anyway, yes, it is more dreamy The forte Arpeggios in m.11 are more convincing in the repeat of the first part, the first time I miss a clear first count. You might also bring out some of the dynamic marks more. Well, I think you are on a good path with this piece, over all, and it is important that you enjoy it more and more Keep improving your legato and making difference between two layers in parts like the one marked "a tempo", "en dehors". In the recapitulatin this sounds a bit too "weighty" on every eighth note, I find that you play this better in the exposition. I still like your "passioné" approach, it's like a positive interruption of the dreaming. Okay so far for now. Keep it up