Ravel's "Alborada del gracioso" from "Miroirs"

[Jacey1973]

Ravel's "Alborada del gracioso" from "Miroirs"
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Hey this is a bit of a technical question, but i was wondering if there is anyone here who has played this piece? I'm performing it in a couple of months and i've memorised it but i'm still having trouble with the ff chords (the ones before the final chords - which are before the last 2 bars if that makes any sense at all) towards the end of the piece (on the last page).

They are the chords 10 bars (the chords that start on the 4th quaver beat after the D major chords) before the end (my edition doesnt have bar numbers i'm afraid!) What i'm a bit stuck on is the fingerings - especially more so in the left hand.

My teacher advised the following fingerings (which i'm finding difficult to play up to speed):

[RH:]            [ 2 semiquavers       2 semiquavers                             2 semiquavers]
                    [ (G# + A) - (A)        (G natural + C natural)                (C#, Eb + G)]

   
LH:               Quaver chord         Quaver chord                                 Quaver chord
                     (A, E# and G#)      (C natural, E natural, G natural)     ( G, C#, E flat)

LH
FINGERINGS:   1                             1                                                     2
                      2                             2                                                     3
                      5                             3                                                     5


I realise this probably makes no sense at all - so apologies for that but i thought it was worth a shot! I really could do with showing the score! But anyway if anyone has played this piece any general tips on performing, practising it, fingerings etc that would be great!

[Skeptopotamus]

124 123 134

[lostinidlewonder]

For the 10th last bar Id use these fingers. The bars following that are rather similar, so Ill just give the fingers for that bar, if you want the rest Ill do it, but its rather logical once you use the 10th last as an example.

10th last Bar
RH: (125)   rest    (125)  (35)  1  (25)  1  (235)  1
LH:  rest     521     (23)   (125)   (421)     (135)

(35) in RH seems quashed but it keeps the 2nd fingers movement to its next note after the thumb (the G) made very easy.

In Lh the (421) and (135) are so natural that the hand hardly has to move except for ensureing the 5th hits its G, once you get that the chord progression is very easy.

[desahcrup]

I'm just wondering ---
When you play this piece, how do you manage to play the double note glissandi (without hurting/killing your fingers)? My teacher advised me to powder off the piano keys, which I find unorthodox to some extent.

Thanks a bunch.

[lostinidlewonder]

24 going upwards is what is marked for the double gliss. You really have to flip your hand upside down and you turn it about 45 degrees to the left so the line made by the 2 and 4 as it slides runs over the same path. The speed at which you do it should allow the 2 to lead the path for the 4 since the notes the 4 plays are already very slightly depressed because the 2 had already gone over them. The touch then just becomes guiding the 2 up the board instead of 2 fingers.

[Jacey1973]

I'm just wondering ---
When you play this piece, how do you manage to play the double note glissandi (without hurting/killing your fingers)? My teacher advised me to powder off the piano keys, which I find unorthodox to some extent.

Thanks a bunch.

On the first glissando i use (2 1), then (3 1) down (this latter fingering is printed in my score - Schott edition), then (2 1) up and (2 1) down and the same for the final glissando ( i don't know if this is "correct", but i just did what came naturally to my fingers!)

I didn't notice the printed accent on the highest chord (the one before you come down again) at first, so when i discovered them i found the glissandi much easier. By accenting that top chord of each glissando you are able to change fingerings and at the same time keep better time.


I'm afraid my fingers did hurt for a good while when first learning this section! I even ended up with a little scab on my index finger under my nail! But eventually my finger toughened up, and over time (with lots of practise) the glissandi have become much easier.

I'm not sure about powdering the piano keys - because if you were to perform the piece i don't think you could do this on stage(!) plus you never know what kind of piano you are going to come across (i find glissandi easier to do on pianos with a lighter action - but you can't guarantee that a piano you have to perform on will be to your choice every time).

I wouldn't practise the glissandos over and over again in one practise session though (due to bleeding fingers - which i'm sure you have already discovered!) What i do (to give my finger a break) is play the LH as normal and just play the first, top and last chords of the glissando to get a feel for the overall structure - it is quite effective!