Sheet Music Request: Ravel's LH Piano Concerto

[kriskicksass]

I've heard reports that it's either the hardest concerto in the repertoire or the easiest, so I want to see the music and decide for myself.

[soliloquy]

With the exception of some obscure modern concerti, it was the hardest concerto I've done, and I'm left-handed.


It's also one of the most beautiful.

[jre58591]

With the exception of some obscure modern concerti, it was the hardest concerto I've done, and I'm left-handed.

wow this concerto is one of the easiest ive ever sightread. maybe i just have a good left hand. i dunno. well, anyways here it is.

[kriskicksass]

I just looked it over. It looks like it wouldn't be bad sight-reading, but I'd hate to ever have to perform that thing at tempo. 

[gymnopedist]

With the exception of some obscure modern concerti, it was the hardest concerto I've done, and I'm left-handed.


It's also one of the most beautiful.

Absolutely. It's my favorite concerto. Which would you say are the hardest parts, from a purely technical point of view?

[jre58591]

Absolutely. It's my favorite concerto. Which would you say are the hardest parts, from a purely technical point of view?

the cadenza has a few confusing parts in it, but nothing in it is really "impossible". this concerto on the whole isnt that hard.

[gymnopedist]

the cadenza has a few confusing parts in it, but nothing in it is really "impossible". this concerto on the whole isnt that hard.

I agree completely, but since soliloquy posted that the Ravel D major was harder than Rach 3, i was just interested in hearing what he/she thought was the hardest thing about it...

[soliloquy]

Why don't you try actually learning it and then come back and tell everyone how easy it was


Hardest part is the Cadenza near the beginning, and the running, one-handed doublenotes; identical in technical requirement to some of Roslavet's passages that Hamelin whines about being tough.  The pianist who Ravel wrote this for (a famous concert pianist who premiered quite a few major works) refused to play it because it was too difficult.  Ian Pace, you know, that guy who plays complete Finnissy, thinks it's tough.

[gymnopedist]

Why don't you try actually learning it and then come back and tell everyone how easy it was


Hardest part is the Cadenza near the beginning, and the running, one-handed doublenotes; identical in technical requirement to some of Roslavet's passages that Hamelin whines about being tough.  The pianist who Ravel wrote this for (a famous concert pianist who premiered quite a few major works) refused to play it because it was too difficult.  Ian Pace, you know, that guy who plays complete Finnissy, thinks it's tough.

Well, i am actually learning it, though not for a concert performance, which is why i don't plan to learn the final cadenza right now... I have been playing it for about a month, and have almost finished with the first solo... By the way, the first cadenza wasn't tough for me, though i do have quite a flexible left hand. And the running, one handed double notes you refer to, you're talking about the ones in the final cadenza, right?

Where did you read that about Wittgenstein? He sightread it the first time he saw it (With some difficulty i suppose) and the only reason he didn't want to play at first was because he didn't like it. He did take to it after a while, and in the end it became one of his signature pieces.

I quote from the Cambridge companion to Ravel:

It always takes me a while to grow into a difficult work. I suppose Ravel was disappointed, and I was sorry, but i had never learned to pretend (To like a piece he didn't like) Only much later, after I'd studied it for months, did I become fascinated by it and realize what a great work it was. - Paul Wittgenstein

[lisztisforkids]

Ive only heard a movement on the radio (I think it was the last) but I thought it was repugnatly ugly.... Will listen to the whole thing soon.

[jre58591]

Ive only heard a movement on the radio (I think it was the last) but I thought it was repugnatly ugly.... Will listen to the whole thing soon.

this concerto consists of only one movement actually. you were hearing the wrong concerto. if not, the dj was lying.

[soliloquy]

Well, i am actually learning it, though not for a concert performance, which is why i don't plan to learn the final cadenza right now... I have been playing it for about a month, and have almost finished with the first solo... By the way, the first cadenza wasn't tough for me, though i do have quite a flexible left hand. And the running, one handed double notes you refer to, you're talking about the ones in the final cadenza, right?

Where did you read that about Wittgenstein? He sightread it the first time he saw it (With some difficulty i suppose) and the only reason he didn't want to play at first was because he didn't like it. He did take to it after a while, and in the end it became one of his signature pieces.

I quote from the Cambridge companion to Ravel:

It always takes me a while to grow into a difficult work. I suppose Ravel was disappointed, and I was sorry, but i had never learned to pretend (To like a piece he didn't like) Only much later, after I'd studied it for months, did I become fascinated by it and realize what a great work it was. - Paul Wittgenstein

I think another pianist told me.  I guess either I or he might have misunderstood, but I know 4sure Wittgenstein had trouble with it.  I actually found the big solo at the beginning tougher than the Cadenza; dunno why.  No, the doublenotes I was talking about aren't in either solo.

@ lisztisforkids: I would guess you heard the G Major Concerto, which is three movements, and would guess you heard the first movement which is semi-atonal.  Did it start with a whip?

[gymnopedist]

I think another pianist told me.  I guess either I or he might have misunderstood, but I know 4sure Wittgenstein had trouble with it.  I actually found the big solo at the beginning tougher than the Cadenza; dunno why.  No, the doublenotes I was talking about aren't in either solo.

oh, ok. Just out of curiousity, where are they then? And since we're on the topic of the first solo part, what fingering do you use for the strepitoso runs?

[lisztisforkids]

this concerto consists of only one movement actually. you were hearing the wrong concerto. if not, the dj was lying.

 Ahh.. Thank you. Maybe I misheard or something.

[jre58591]

Ahh.. Thank you. Maybe I misheard or something.

i would almost be willing to bet that you did. this concerto is very beautiful, and there isnt anything radical in it, really. it isnt xenakis's synaphai 

[emmdoubleew]

Jre, could you post a recording? Here or on dasdc.

[jre58591]

Jre, could you post a recording? Here or on dasdc.

yeah, sure. ill post it later today.

[jre58591]

ok, here is krystian zimerman performing ravel's piano concerto for the left hand. pierre boulez is the conductor. this has to be my favorite recording of this piece.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/gyk43n

[gymnopedist]

ok, here is krystian zimerman performing ravel's piano concerto for the left hand. pierre boulez is the conductor. this has to be my favorite recording of this piece.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/gyk43n

mine as well!

[Nightscape]

Yep, that's my favorite recording of the concerto too.  Also, the G major concerto is on the same disc and it too is my favorite version of that concerto.  Altogether a great CD!

[gymnopedist]

I guess either I or he might have misunderstood, but I know 4sure Wittgenstein had trouble with it. 

Sorry for being a jerk, but apparently not.

From a letter from Paul Wittenstein to Madeleine Goss, 1947:
"I never complained about the Concerto being too difficult (as a matter of fact, of all the concertos written for me, Ravel's is the least difficult of all).
It is true that I proposed a change, but not for facility's sake, before the entrance of the piano in the last cadenza, but Ravel objected. I had to submit and I did submit."

[moi_not_toi]

ok, here is krystian zimerman performing ravel's piano concerto for the left hand. pierre boulez is the conductor. this has to be my favorite recording of this piece.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/gyk43n

Could you reupload that?
I'd really appreciate it!
 

[jre58591]

Could you reupload that?
I'd really appreciate it!
 

sure, when i come back from texas. wow i have quite a list to upload.

[moi_not_toi]

sure, when i come back from texas. wow i have quite a list to upload.

I can wait. 
Take your time.

[jre58591]

ok, now that im back from texas, i have fast internet. here is ravel's left hand piano concerto with zimerman.