Le Tombeau de Couperin, No. 5: MenuetMaurice Ravel43rank/position
Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin – 5. Menuet pf. Saori Haji
Maurice Ravel composed Le Tombeau de Couperin as a memorial piece in remembrance of acquaintances who died in World War I.
The “Couperin” in the title refers to François Couperin, a French composer of the Baroque era; the work takes its name from Ravel’s use of Baroque forms exemplified by Couperin.
Consisting of six pieces, the work is by no means easy, but the fifth piece, “Menuet,” is set at a relaxed tempo and is comparatively less difficult, making it approachable.
Try playing it while imagining Ravel quietly reflecting on the departed.
Le Tombeau de Couperin, No. 6: ToccataMaurice Ravel44rank/position
[Ravel's Most Difficult Piece] Toccata / Ravel: Toccata
Le Tombeau de Couperin, imbued with the misery of war and the preciousness of friendship, is a suite of six pieces composed by the French composer Maurice Ravel in memory of friends he lost in World War I.
The final piece, Toccata, combines the technical difficulty of repeated-note passages with emotional depth.
It begins in E minor in 2/4 time, modulates through different keys, and drives toward a grand climax.
It is a work that conveys the power and vigor of music.
Composed around 1893 when Maurice Ravel was about 18, this is a highly distinctive and passionate work.
According to an anecdote, Ravel later added the word “grotesque” to its title; as the name suggests, its rough, provocative sonorities are interwoven with startlingly sweet melodies.
The piece’s appeal lies in its vivid contrast with the emotional central section, making it feel like listening to an awkward yet single-minded declaration of love.
It’s perfect for those who want to experience a bold, youthfully daring side of Ravel that differs from his refined image.
For performers, a key point is to draw a dramatic distinction between the fierce and the sweet elements.
Maurice Ravel – Shéhérazade, ouverture de féerie
This early orchestral work by Ravel was inspired by his fascination with Scheherazade, the heroine of the Arabian Nights.
With its distinctive harmony and orchestration, it exemplifies Ravel’s impressionistic musical style.
The delicate sense of color and the way he conjures fantastical scenes through combinations of instruments foreshadow techniques found in his later works.
As an early testament to Ravel’s musical talent and innovation, it still holds an important place today.
It’s also a recommended piece for those interested in the mystical world of the East.
Three Poems by Stéphane MallarméMaurice Ravel48rank/position
Maurice Ravel – 3 Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé
A vocal work accompanied by woodwinds, piano, and string quartet.
It consists of three pieces: “Sighs,” “Vain Wish,” and “Leaping Out of the Jar in a Single Bound.” Mallarmé, a leading figure among 19th-century French Symbolist poets, exerted broad influence on musicians as well; Debussy also set “Sighs” and “Vain Wish” to music.
It is sometimes called “The Spanish Clock,” but the actual meaning is “Spanish Time.” The mistranslation likely arose because a large clock appears on stage.
The performance is by the Orchestre de l’Opéra National de Paris conducted by Seiji Ozawa, recorded in 2004.
