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Topic: Ravel (Read 4729 times)

berman

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Posts: 21

Hey guys, I was thinking of start practising Ravels Ondine from Gaspard de la Nuit in a couple of months but I havent played Ravel before. I wonder if anyone a piece(s) of Ravel to start with, to get the right ravel-feeling when playing ondine?

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scottmcc

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Posts: 544

Re: Ravel

Reply #1 on: December 15, 2010, 10:48:32 AM

try the sonatine. it's nowhere near as difficult, but still a challenging and beautiful piece that is very "ravel-like." the tremolos and crossed hands in the main theme will warm you up for the far more challenging figures in ondine. another good choice would be the pavane pour un infante defunte. I find that piece deceptively challenging myself--my hands get tangled trying to get the right fingerings.

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dobber

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Newbie
Posts: 2

Re: Ravel

Reply #2 on: December 15, 2010, 02:15:28 PM

Jeux D'Eau is simpler technically than Ondine but would prepare you for playing the rippling, water-like effects. It is however rather long itself. You could just do some preparation in mastering some of the figurations in advance e.g. the tremolo or the LH arpeggios.

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nanabush

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Posts: 2081

Re: Ravel

Reply #3 on: December 15, 2010, 06:30:52 PM

I'd second the Sonatine; it doesn't have nearly as many damn notes, but you'll familiarize yourself with a lot of the Ravel-like harmonies and technique; I agree, you get a feel for the hands crossing, as well as repetitive figures with a melody mixed in (opening of 1st movement namely).

At least try out a movement of the Sonatine, and if you are successful with it, then you now have a foot in the door with Ravel!

I remember looking at Ondine when I was in Grade 10 (at school), and freaking the hell out at just the first page [how are there so many notes!!]; but once you get used to his writing style (just like you would in any other composer, Rachmaninoff with wide spans, Debussy's textures, Bach's contrapuntal style, etc) then you will see some material in the Ondine that you will seem to be more familiar with, you can relate to it a bit more. I did the Sonatine for an exam 2 years later, then came back for fun and looked at Ondine, and it was WAY more accessible (but the climax with the polyrhythms still bugs me to no end).

Have you played any Debussy? Some of his pieces are kinda similar... some of the Images, and parts of the Estampes have some stuff that you could come across in Ondine (similar stuff, not exact same material).

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Interested in discussing:

-Prokofiev Toccata
-Scriabin Sonata 2

berman

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 21

Re: Ravel

Reply #4 on: December 17, 2010, 08:42:54 AM

Thanks, useful!

I´m probably going for the sonatine and the Toccata from L.T.Couperin

I have played Debussy and I love the Images but now I´m going for ravel

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pianist1976

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Posts: 506

Re: Ravel

Reply #5 on: December 17, 2010, 09:58:34 AM

Ondine was my first Ravel piece. If you love it (as I did, and I do...

) and you feel you have technique to play it, go ahead. It's difficult but not exaggeratedly difficult. It's very pianistic, in my opinion easier than Scarbo, Alborada or Toccata. I don't think you need a Ravel "preparatory" piece in order to play it, just my opinion and only if you have technique and background enough. It would be interesting to know your background, it is, which difficult pieces have you play until now.

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berman

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 21

Re: Ravel

Reply #6 on: December 19, 2010, 12:26:46 AM

I actually feel it would be good for me to improve my "skills" a little bit more before starting with Ondine, so I´m going to try learning the Sonatine this christmas break (along with Bach: Partita no. 1 Chopin: Etude op. 25 no. 8 and Poulenc: "3 Pieces").
If I succed I problably will start With Ondine tough, much earlier than i thougt, thanks.

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mnmleung

PS Silver Member
Jr. Member
Posts: 74

Re: Ravel

Reply #7 on: December 22, 2010, 02:58:43 PM

Vlado Perlemuter, who studied Ravel's piano works with the composer, has a little book called "Ravel according to Ravel". Might be worthwhile having a read as you explore Ravel's music.

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learning
Chopin etude op 10 no 6
Chopin mazurka op 24 no 4
Szymanowski prelude op 1 no 1

orangesodaking

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 405

Re: Ravel

Reply #8 on: December 22, 2010, 03:42:38 PM

Quote from: pianist1976 on December 17, 2010, 09:58:34 AM

Ondine was my first Ravel piece. If you love it (as I did, and I do... ) and you feel you have technique to play it, go ahead. It's difficult but not exaggeratedly difficult. It's very pianistic, in my opinion easier than Scarbo, Alborada or Toccata. I don't think you need a Ravel "preparatory" piece in order to play it, just my opinion and only if you have technique and background enough. It would be interesting to know your background, it is, which difficult pieces have you play until now.

I think I agree with this here, although I didn't really find the Toccata to be too hard.

I'm doing La Valse (solo) now, and I think that's a lot harder than the Toccata. I haven't played Alborada, but one of my friends said it's quite simple except for the repeated notes part. I don't know about Scarbo, though.

You could also investigate Une Barque sur l'Ocean from Miroirs.

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