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Classics Explained: An Introduction to Ravel (Written and Narrated by Jeremy Siepmann) cover art

Classics Explained: An Introduction to Ravel (Written and Narrated by Jeremy Siepmann)

by Maurice Ravel

Other· 2001· 80 tracks

Tracklist

  1. 1Introduction; Cue to Unadorned Bolero Rhythm, Part I2:29
  2. 2Bolero Rhythm, Part 2: An Extended Variation of, Part I0:07
  3. 3'Motto' Rhythm Complete (Instrumentation Will Change on Each New Hearing)0:21
  4. 4But Here We Have Snare Drums and Plucked Violas and Cellos0:22
  5. 5Section 1: Introduction of 'the Theme' (The Only One in the Piece) By Solo Flute0:37
  6. 6Flute continues with Part 2 of theme0:48
  7. 7Section 2: Complete Statement of Theme by Clarinet as Flute Joins 'Motto' Group1:30
  8. 8Introduction of 'Discordant' Harp Into the Unfolding Picture0:18
  9. 9Section 3: Bassoon Introduces Closely Related Variant of Theme0:34
  10. 10... but Then Veers Upwards, Slowing Rhythm and Introducting New Syncopation0:59
  11. 11Section 4: 'Petite' E Flat Clarinet Takes Over Theme, Including Variants1:21
  12. 12Section 5: Oboe D'Amore Takes Over Theme but Returns to Its Original Form1:34
  13. 13Section 6: Theme Now Shared by Two Instruments: Muted Trumpet and Flute1:16
  14. 14Section 7: Tenor saxophone takes Theme as trumpet replaces horn in 'motto'1:39
  15. 15Section 8: Theme Taken by Soprano Saxophone, 'Espressivo'1:09
  16. 16Section 9: Theme: Celeste, Piccolos and Horn; Motto: Flute and French Horn1:24
  17. 17Section 10: Theme: Oboes, Horns, Clarinets; Motto: Plucked Violas and Violins2:06
  18. 18Section 11: Theme Taken by First Trombone, Complete With Jazzy Slides1:40
  19. 19Section 12: Theme: Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Sax; Motto: Bassoons, Horns, Trumpets1:13
  20. 20Section 13: Violins at Last Take the Main Tune, Joining Massed Winds1:14
  21. 21Section 14: Violins Divide Into Four Groups, Each 'Double-Stopping'1:04
  22. 22Section 15: Trumpet, Trombone 2 and Tuba Join the Foreground1:18
  23. 23Section 16: First Trombone and Soprano Saxophone 'Rejoin' Theme0:56
  24. 24Section 17: Fortissimo; All Strings 'Double-Stopping'; Trumpets Added1:26
  25. 25Section 18: Entire Orchestra Now Employed, 'as Loudly as Possible'1:18
  26. 26Section 19: Sudden, Amazing Change of Key, Lurching From C to E Major1:20
  27. 27Section 20: Key Now Lurches Back to C, as Jazzy Trombones Whiningly Protest0:36
  28. 28Cue to Complete Performance0:20
  29. 29Bolero16:16
  30. 1Opening Figure on Flute; Rising, Falling, and Then Repeated1:04
  31. 2Same Again, With Emphasis on Delicacy of Scoring0:30
  32. 3Answering Variant, Accompanied by Plucked Double Basses0:19
  33. 4Reminder of Opening Figure0:18
  34. 5... and Now Its Rhythmical Mirror Image, or Almost...0:12
  35. 6Answering Phrase 2: A Near-Inversion, Over "James Bond" Accompaniment0:41
  36. 7Pivotal Phrase 3, Reversing Direction but Keeping Rhythm of Phrase 20:46
  37. 8Reprise of Phrases 1 and 2, but With New Accompaniment0:39
  38. 9Further Reprise of Phrase 2, Now on Violin, Accompanied by Harp0:40
  39. 10Ma mère l'oye: Pavane de la belle au bois dormant1:37
  40. 11Introduction; Opening, With Multi-Metre Rising Scales From Muted Violins0:49
  41. 12Changes of Metre Continue as Solo Oboe Introduces Theme One0:24
  42. 13Oboe Yields to Cor Anglais for Theme Two, Against Lower (Still Muted) Strings0:44
  43. 14Theme One Returns, Shared by Clarinet and Flute; Muted Horn Added to Accompaniment0:25
  44. 15"Motto" Rhythm Dominates as Intensity Increases From Lower Strings to Full Orchestra0:46
  45. 16Fear Subsides as Theme Two Returns, Again in Cor Anglais but Now in a Different Key0:32
  46. 17Sensational Sound Effects Evoke a Wood at Night, With Screeches, Cuckooing etc.0:44
  47. 18Texture Thins; Theme One Returns, Delicately Scored for Strings and Piccolo0:19
  48. 19The Main Part of Movement Ends, With Waltz-Like March(!) (feat. Flute)0:28
  49. 20Ma mère l'oye: Petit poucet3:17
  50. 21Introduction; Opening (Introductory) Bars, Followed by Theme One2:00
  51. 22Oriental-Orchestral Equivalent of an Imperial Telephone Bell0:15
  52. 23... Oboe "Answers" With a Very Slightly Varied Version of Theme One0:15
  53. 24Expanded Derivative of the "Telephone Bell" Interrupts the Theme Again1:00
  54. 25Fragments of Theme in Flutes and Cor Anglais, With "James Bond" Tag in Violins0:24
  55. 26"Gamelan" Music From Flute and Piccolo, Accompanied by Harp, Xylophone and Strings0:32
  56. 27Arrival of Empress; Upper Strings Yield to Winds, Celeste, Harp And (Very Discreet) Gong0:47
  57. 28Ma mère l'oye: III. Laideronnette, impératrice des pagodes3:34
  58. 29Opening, Waltz Theme From Clarinet, With Important Downward Scale Figure in Strings0:51
  59. 30Characteristic Pattern of Two Short Phrases Answered by a Long One0:36
  60. 31Clarinet, Flutes and Violas, With "Sighing" Figure Derived From Downward String Motif0:21
  61. 32Varied Reprise of Opening, Entry of the "Beast" (Contra-Bassoon); "Watch It! Watch It!"0:32
  62. 33Again the "Beast" Growls; Again the Cautious Warning "Watch It!" From the Winds0:40
  63. 34Derivative of Beauty's Theme From Flute, Combined With "Caution Motif" in Strings0:38
  64. 35"Beast's Theme" Rises in Pitch With Each Successive "Growl" (Representing Hope?)0:52
  65. 36"Beauty", "Beast" and "Caution" Motifs All Combine Simultaneously1:12
  66. 37"Beast" (Contra-Bassoon) Climbs Ever Higher, Handing Over to Bassoon Proper0:49
  67. 38Harp's Upward Glide Heralds the Moment of Transformation; Love Song, Fear, Release2:09
  68. 39Ma mère l’oye Suite (Mother Goose Suite) (version for orchestra): IV. Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bête4:12
  69. 40Introduction; Opening Bars Are Unfurled by the Strings Alone0:40
  70. 41The Rhythmic Basis, and Its Guises. First, a Question: "Where Went My Childhood?"1:23
  71. 42The Question Intensified: "Oh Where Went... My Childhood?"0:15
  72. 43The Answer, With a Falling Inflection: "Gone Is Your Childhood."0:20
  73. 44The Plea: "Bring Back My Childhood!"0:14
  74. 45The Response: "Seek In... Your Mem'ry. There It... Will Be."0:25
  75. 46Ravel's Use of Tone Colour to Change the Feeling of the Music0:49
  76. 47Further Illustration of the Same Point0:27
  77. 48Continued1:44
  78. 49The Nobility of the Strings0:45
  79. 50Bells Evoked by French Horns; The Final, Opulent, Moving Climax of the Whole Suite1:11
  80. 51Ma mère l'oye: V. Le jardin féerique3:58