How to interpret Ravel's Gaspard

[apocalyptica]

I was just wondering if any out there had any ideas on how to learn the music for "Gaspard de la Nuit" by Maurice Ravel -- are there any tips or tricks for fingerings?  I have an edition put out by Schirmer, edited by some Casadesus person.  How accurate would this copy be?  Is there a certain way Ravel wanted this piece to be played?

Thanks for your help!
Nate

[comme_le_vent]

i havent played it, but ive seen the score - just know what every performance direction means - another good idea is to listen to great recordings - argerich is probably the best in this case.

and nice name btw...4 cellos playing metal songs was and is a great idea  

[apocalyptica]

Thanks for your comments!  Yes, cellos and metal are good.  About the Ravel, I am looking for recordings and it looks like "Gaspard" is part of a two CD set by Argerich that includes a bunch of different styles, including Bach, Prokofiev, Liszt and Rachmaninoff.  That's a wide range for one pianist, don't you think?  I don't know that much about Argerich, why do you think that would be the best one?

Thanks again!

[comme_le_vent]

yes thats a wide range, but argerich is a phenomenon unto herself, look in the miscellaneous section of this forum and go to to thread 'noah and ed meet god' - the god they are referring to is argerich herself.

her technique is amazing - and her recordings are always exciting, witness her rach 3 - the fastest ever recorded. my favourite recording of hers is her chopin preludes - which manage to be both perfectly planned - yet seem incredibly spontanious every time you hear them - and the sheer speed of some of them is a thrill in itself.

[erik-]

If you don't want to buy the 2 CDs set, you can also find Argerich's interpretation of Gaspard on :

- a Deutsche Grammophon CD which also includes her interpretation of Prokofiev's piano concerto n.3 and Ravel's piano concerto in G-Major (conductor Claudio Abbado)

- a EMI CD "Live from the Concertgebouw 1978 & 1979" which includes Gaspard but also Schumann's Fantasiestücke and Ravel's Sonatine

[MikeLauwrie]

Pascal Roget's version is the best I've heard.

Ivo Pogorelich is worth a listen too particularly for his explosive last movement! Although the other two leave a bit to be desired.

Good luck this is not an easy piece. In fact the second movement is a lot more difficult that it sounds.

[DarkWind]

Ok, I am the biggest Ravel music lover out there, at least of the one's that I know of, so I can help you out. I have the same edition, its probably the best one out there. I have the Dover as well, but not as many helpful hints or english translations. You can buy Gaspard De La Nuit, Sonatine, and some pieces by Schumann, from iTunes, played by Martha Argerich. Anyways, which particular part are you thinking of playing, or is it all 3? For Ondine, I recommend that you learn to play those tremolos really quickly, and have a lot of accuracy. The piece should be soft, quick, similar in style to Jeux D'eau. Le Gibet needs really big hands, and should be very slow, but not slowing down or accelerating, as said in the tempo marking. It should be played mysteriously, brooding, quietly, and with a fiendish connotation to it. Scarbo, you just need to know everything about piano! It has incredible crescendos, it needs to be played in a somewhat boisterous style, loud, hauntingly, to intensify the evil of the character described in the poem. Good luck!