Notes and Editorial Reviews
The mélodies presented here were written between 1903 and 1927. They display in exemplary fashion the different facets of the art of Ravelian song. Some malcontents have declared them 'unclassifiable'. In fact, what is striking here is the diversity, the eclecticism, the independence of the composer when he chooses, as encounters and opportunities crop up, to illustrate a poem by Verlaine, to set to music the prose of Jules Renard, or to harmonise a Greek or Hebrew tune.
This footloose stroll through different times and cultures gives us an insight into the composer's inquiring mind, his determination to follow his wishes and desires, without noisily drawing attention to himself, yet tranquilly standing his ground in
Read more
his personal world while apparently indifferent to the scandals he quite involuntarily provoked. The song texts reflect Ravel's literary culture, his interest in and respect for literature, which had been as Integral a part of his life as music ever since his adolescence, when, in the company of Ricardo Vines (great-great-uncle of Nora Gubisch), he frequented the bookshops and the second-hand booksellers along the Seine.
Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Tripatos by Maurice Ravel
Performer:
Nora Gubisch (Mezzo Soprano),
Alain Altinoglu (Piano)
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1909; France
2.
Mélodies populaires grecques (5) by Maurice Ravel
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1904-1906; France
3.
Mélodies hébraïques (2) by Maurice Ravel
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1914-1919; France
4.
Manteau de fleurs by Maurice Ravel
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1903; France
5.
Histoires naturelles by Maurice Ravel
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1906; France
6.
Chansons madécasses by Maurice Ravel
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1925-1926; France
Sound Samples
Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories): No. 1. Le paon (The Peacock)
Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories): No. 2. Le grillon (The Cricket)
Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories): No. 3. Le cygne (The Swan)
Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories): No. 4. Le martin-pecheur (The Kingfisher)
Histoires naturelles (Natural Histories): No. 5. Le pintade (The Guinea-Fowl)
Chansons madecasses: No. 1. Nahandove
Chansons madecasses: No. 2. Aoua!
Chansons madecasses: No. 3. Il est doux
5 Melodies populaires grecques: No. 1. Chanson de la mariee
5 Melodies populaires grecques: No. 2. La-bas, vers l'eglise
5 Melodies populaires grecques: No. 3. Quel galant m'est comparable
5 Melodies populaires grecques: No. 4. Chanson des cueilleuses de lentisques
5 Melodies populaires grecques: No. 5. Tout gai!
Tripatos (sung in Greek): Tripatos
Les grands vents venus d'outremer
2 Melodies hebraiques (version for voice and piano): No. 1. Kaddisch
2 Melodies hebraiques (version for voice and piano): No. 2. L'enigme eternelle (The eternal enigma)
Customer Reviews
Be the first to review this title
Review This Title
