Sonatine (Ravel)
Encyclopedia
Sonatine is a piano work written by Maurice Ravel
. Although Ravel wrote in his autobiography that he wrote the Sonatine after Miroirs
, it seems to have been written between 1903 and 1905. He most likely referred to the dates he finished both of the works.
sonatina
no longer than 75 bars, with the prize being 100 Francs. Ravel was the only entrant. His Sonatina was disqualified, however, for being a few bars too long. The competition was ultimately cancelled as the magazine was close to bankruptcy at the time. Two years later, Ravel completed the second and third movements and the complete sonatine was published shortly after.
The Sonatine was first performed in Lyon
s in March 1906 by Mme Paule de Lestang. Shortly afterwards it received its Paris
premiere, where it was played by Gabriel Grovlez
. The work was dedicated to Ida and Cipa Godebski; he later dedicated his Ma Mère l'Oye
suite to their children.
Although the piece is titled 'Sonatine' rather than 'Sonata
', the diminutive refers to the modest length of the piece and not to any simplicity, either in structure or ease of execution. Indeed, shortly after the Lyons performance, Ravel wrote that although he was pleased with the public reception, he was worried about the difficult nature of his piece. Although Ravel did record a piano roll
of the first two movements, he felt unable to play the technical third movement and frequently left it out while playing concerts in America in the late 1920s.
The opening theme of the first movement is subject to variations and transformations in the second and third movements, especially the opening 'falling fourth' motif, which is reversed into a series of ascending fourth 'horn calls' at the start of the third movement. The first movement is in sonata-allegro form and echoes of the following transformations can already be heard in the final bars. The second minuet movement lacks the traditional trio section, in keeping with the shortened form of the Sonatine. While it is structurally based on the minuet, Ravel's use of accents and changes in tempo stop the movement from turning into a simple waltz. The third movement is a very difficult piece and has been described as a virtuosic tour de force; technichal challenges include wild arpeggios, polyrhythms, rapid ostinati in awkward intervals, and hands conflicting with each-other at great speed. This toccata
movement was inspired by Ravel's French predecessors Rameau and Couperin
; Ravel would later expand the proportions used in this piece to structure the Toccata section of Le Tombeau de Couperin
.
transcribed Ravel's Sonatine for flute, harp and cello (or viola), titling the transciption Sonatine en Trio.
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
. Although Ravel wrote in his autobiography that he wrote the Sonatine after Miroirs
Miroirs
Miroirs, or "Reflections" is a suite for solo piano written by French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel between 1904 and 1905. First performed by Ricardo Viñes in 1906, Miroirs contains five movements, each dedicated to a fellow member of the French impressionist group, Les...
, it seems to have been written between 1903 and 1905. He most likely referred to the dates he finished both of the works.
Composition
Ravel wrote the first movement of the Sonatine for a competition sponsored by the Weekly Critical Review magazine after being encouraged by a close friend who was a contributor to that publication. The competition requirement was the composition of the first movement of a pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
sonatina
Sonatina
A sonatina is literally a small sonata. As a musical term, sonatina has no single strict definition; it is rather a title applied by the composer to a piece that is in basic sonata form, but is shorter, lighter in character, or more elementary technically than a typical sonata...
no longer than 75 bars, with the prize being 100 Francs. Ravel was the only entrant. His Sonatina was disqualified, however, for being a few bars too long. The competition was ultimately cancelled as the magazine was close to bankruptcy at the time. Two years later, Ravel completed the second and third movements and the complete sonatine was published shortly after.
The Sonatine was first performed in Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
s in March 1906 by Mme Paule de Lestang. Shortly afterwards it received its Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
premiere, where it was played by Gabriel Grovlez
Gabriel Grovlez
Gabriel Marie Grovlez was an eminent French composer and conductor.He studied with Gabriel Fauré at the Conservatoire de Paris, and taught at the Schola Cantorum. His main work was with the Societé National de l'Opéra, and his compositions were mainly for voice...
. The work was dedicated to Ida and Cipa Godebski; he later dedicated his Ma Mère l'Oye
Ma Mère l'Oye
Ma mère l'oye is a musical work by French composer Maurice Ravel.-Piano versions:Ravel originally wrote Ma mère l'oye as a piano duet for the Godebski children, Mimi and Jean, ages 6 and 7. Ravel dedicated this work for four hands to the children...
suite to their children.
Structure
The piece is in three movements:- I. Modéré ("moderate")
- II. Mouvement de menuet ("MinuetMinuetA minuet, also spelled menuet, is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually in 3/4 time. The word was adapted from Italian minuetto and French menuet, and may have been from French menu meaning slender, small, referring to the very small steps, or from the early 17th-century popular...
movement") - III. Animé ("animated")
Although the piece is titled 'Sonatine' rather than 'Sonata
Sonata
Sonata , in music, literally means a piece played as opposed to a cantata , a piece sung. The term, being vague, naturally evolved through the history of music, designating a variety of forms prior to the Classical era...
', the diminutive refers to the modest length of the piece and not to any simplicity, either in structure or ease of execution. Indeed, shortly after the Lyons performance, Ravel wrote that although he was pleased with the public reception, he was worried about the difficult nature of his piece. Although Ravel did record a piano roll
Piano roll
A piano roll is a music storage medium used to operate a player piano, piano player or reproducing piano. A piano roll is a continuous roll of paper with perforations punched into it. The peforations represent note control data...
of the first two movements, he felt unable to play the technical third movement and frequently left it out while playing concerts in America in the late 1920s.
The opening theme of the first movement is subject to variations and transformations in the second and third movements, especially the opening 'falling fourth' motif, which is reversed into a series of ascending fourth 'horn calls' at the start of the third movement. The first movement is in sonata-allegro form and echoes of the following transformations can already be heard in the final bars. The second minuet movement lacks the traditional trio section, in keeping with the shortened form of the Sonatine. While it is structurally based on the minuet, Ravel's use of accents and changes in tempo stop the movement from turning into a simple waltz. The third movement is a very difficult piece and has been described as a virtuosic tour de force; technichal challenges include wild arpeggios, polyrhythms, rapid ostinati in awkward intervals, and hands conflicting with each-other at great speed. This toccata
Toccata
Toccata is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard or plucked string instrument featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages or sections, with or without imitative or fugal interludes, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers...
movement was inspired by Ravel's French predecessors Rameau and Couperin
Couperin
The Couperin family were a musical dynasty of professional composers and performers. They were the most prolific family in French musical history, active during the Baroque era...
; Ravel would later expand the proportions used in this piece to structure the Toccata section of Le Tombeau de Couperin
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Le tombeau de Couperin is a suite for solo piano by Maurice Ravel, composed between 1914 and 1917, in six movements. Each movement is dedicated to the memory of friends of the composer who had died fighting in World War I...
.
Reception
Reception for the Ravel's Sonatine has been mixed but generally favorable. Marcel Marnat wrote that the Sonatine captivates us from the very first measure in its depth, adding that in its conciseness and radiance, it is one of Ravel's defining works. In contrast, Arbie Orenstein has written that while the Sonatine is pleasant enough, it does not compare to the later Miroirs.Arrangement
Carlos SalzedoCarlos Salzedo
Carlos Salzedo , was a harpist, composer and conductor, born in Arcachon, France, who was one of the musical elite of his time.-France:...
transcribed Ravel's Sonatine for flute, harp and cello (or viola), titling the transciption Sonatine en Trio.