Ravel Toccata (Tombeau de Couperin)

[thorn]

The only performance ive ever heard of this that is actually crotchet =144 sounded a mess. but if its taken too slow it defeats the object of the piece.

what would people say is an acceptable tempo range?

also, how generous (or not) are people with the soft pedal considering 80% of the piece is 'pp'?

[Alde]

Go to your local library and listen to recordings.  Your best bet is to make a list of tempos by different artists.  I am sure you will find all sorts of tempos.

Also, be careful when using the una corda pedal.  Variety of colour and sound are wonderful but the last thing that you would want to do is "ride" the soft pedal.

[kitty on the keys]

I agree! Listen to many recordings. Everybody has their own ideas, sounds and tempo for the Toccata. You will finds yours. Also look at editions and see the tempo markings and how they compare. Good luck!

Kitty

[mcgillcomposer]

The only performance ive ever heard of this that is actually crotchet =144 sounded a mess. but if its taken too slow it defeats the object of the piece.

what would people say is an acceptable tempo range?

also, how generous (or not) are people with the soft pedal considering 80% of the piece is 'pp'?

Ravel recorded this himself - check it out.

[lostinidlewonder]

Una Corda is cheating and sounds wrong to produce pp unless you are asked to do so. Una Corda has a particular sound to it, so you have to know when its application is "tasteful". It is not to simply make your playing quieter.

[gymnopedist]

All the metronome  markings in Tombeau are by Marguerite Long, so you don't necessarily have to stick to them.