Classics Explained: RAVEL - Boléro and Ma Mère l’oye

An exploration of Ravel's Bolero and Ma Mere L'Oye narrated by Jeremy Siepmann

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

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About

Label: Naxos
Series:
- Educational
- Classics Explained
Catalogue number: 8558032-33
Length: 97 minutes

Contents and tracklist

Ravel: An Introduction to … RAVEL: Bolero and Ma Mere L'oye

Work length1:37:01

Jeremy Siepmann (reader)

Bolero-Introduction; cue to unadorned Bolero rhythm, Part 1

Track length2:29

Bolero rhythm, Part 2: an extended variation of Part 1

Track length0:07

' Motto ' rhythm complete

Track length0:21

But here we have snare drums and plucked violas and cellos

Track length0:22

Section 1: Introduction of ' the theme ' by solo flute

Track length0:37

Flute continues with Part 2 of theme

Track length0:48

Section 2: Complete statement of theme by clarinet as flute joins ' motto ' group

Track length1:30

Introduction of ' discordant ' harp into the unfolding picture

Track length0:18

Section 3: Bassoon introduces closely related variant of theme

Track length0:34

...but then veers upwards, slowing rhythm and introducing new syncopation

Track length0:59

Section 4: ' Petite ' E flat clainet takes over theme, including variants

Track length1:21

Section 5: Oboe d'amore takes over theme but returns to its original form

Track length1:34

Section 6: Theme now shared by two instruments: uted trumpet and flute

Track length1:16

Section 7: Tenor saxophone takes Theme as trumpet replaces horn in ' motto '

Track length1:39

Section 8: Theme taken by soprano saxphone, ' espressivo '

Track length1:09

Section 9: Theme: celeste, piccolos and horn; Motto: flute and French horn

Track length1:24

Section 10: Theme: Oboes, horns, clarinets; Motto: plucked violas and violins

Track length2:06

Section 11: Theme taken by First Trombone, complete with jazzy slides

Track length1:40

Section 12: Theme: flutes, oboes, clarinets, sax; Motto: bassoons, horns, trumpets

Track length1:13

Section 13: Violins at last take the main tune, joining massed winds

Track length1:14

Section 14: Violins divide into four groups, each ' double-stopping '

Track length1:04

Section 15: Trumpet, trombone 2 and tuba join the foreground

Track length1:18

Section 16: First trombone and soprano saxophone ' rejoin ' theme

Track length0:56

Section 17: Fortissimo; all strings ' double-stopping '; trumpets added

Track length1:26

Section 18: Entire orchestra now employed, ' as loudly as possible '

Track length1:18

Section 19: Sudden, amazing change of key, lurching from C to E major

Track length1:20

Section 20: Key now lurches back to C, as jazzy trombones whiningly protest

Track length0:36

Cue to complete performance

Track length0:20

Bolero (complete)

Track length16:16

Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant-Opening figure on flute; rising, falling, and then reeated

Track length1:04

Same again, with emphasis on delicacy of scoring

Track length0:30

answering variant, accompanied by plucked double basses

Track length0:19

Reminder of opening figure

Track length0:18

... and now its rhythmical mirror image, or almost...

Track length0:12

Answering Phrase 2: a near-inversion, over ' James Bond ' accompaniment

Track length0:41

Pivotal Phrase 3, reversing direction but keeping rhythm of Phrase 2

Track length0:46

Reprise of Phrases 1 and 2, but with new accompaniment

Track length0:39

Further Reprise of Phrase 2, now on violin, accompanied by harp

Track length0:40

Pavane (complete)

Track length1:41

Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb)-Introduction; Opening, with multi-metre rising scales from muted violins

Track length0:49

Change of metre continue as solo oboe introduces Theme One

Track length0:24

Oboe yields to Cor Anglais for Theme Two, against lower (still muted) strings

Track length0:44

Theme One returns, shared by clarinet and flute, muted horn added to accompaniment

Track length0:25

'Motto' rhythm dominates as intensity increases from lower strings to full orchestra

Track length0:46

Fear subsides as Theme Two returns, again in Cor Anglais but now in a different key

Track length0:32

Sensational sound effects evoke a wood at night, with screeches, cuckooing etc.

Track length0:44

Texture thins; Theme one returns, delicately scored for strings and piccolo

Track length0:19

The main part of movement ends, with waltz-like march(!), featuring flute

Track length0:28

Petit Poucet (complete)

Track length3:28

Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes-Introduction; opening bars, followed by Theme One

Track length2:00

Oriental-orchestral equivalent of an imprial telephone bell

Track length0:15

... oboe ' answers ' with a very slightly varied version of Theme One

Track length0:15

Expanded derivative of the ' telephone bell ' interrupts the theme again

Track length1:00

Fragments of theme in flutes and cor anglais, with ' James Bond ' tag in violins

Track length0:24

'Gamelan ' music from flute and piccolo, accompanied by harp, xylophone and strings

Track length0:32

arrival of Empress; upper strings yield to winds, celeste, harp and (very discreet) gong

Track length0:47

Laideronnette, Imperatrice des Pagodes (complete)

Track length3:57

Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete- opening

Track length0:51

Characteristic pattern of two short phrases answered by a long one

Track length0:36

Clarinet, flutes and violas, with ' sighing' figure derived from downward string motif

Track length0:21

Varied reprise of opening, entry of the ' Beast '; ' Watch it ! Watch it ! '

Track length0:32

Again the ' Beast ' growls; again the cautious warning ' Watch it ! ' from the winds

Track length0:40

Derivative of Beauty's Theme from flute, combined with ' caution motif ' in strings

Track length0:38

' Beast's theme ' rises in pitch with each successive ' gowl ' (representing hope?)

Track length0:52

' Beauty ', ' Beast ' and ' Caution ' motifs all combine simultaneously

Track length1:12

' Beast ' (contra-bassoon) climbs ever higher, handing over to bassoon proper

Track length0:49

Harp's upward glide heralds the moment of transformation; love song, fear, release

Track length2:09

Les entretiens de la Belle et de la Bete (complete)

Track length4:14

Le jardin feerique-Introduction; Opening bars are unfuuuuuuuuurled by the strings alone

Track length0:40

The rhythmic basis, and its guises. First, a question: ' Where went my childhood?'

Track length1:23

The question intensified:' Oh where went ... my childhood?'

Track length0:15

The answer, with a falling inflection: ' Gone is your childhood.'

Track length0:20

The plea: ' Bring back my childhood!'

Track length0:14

The response: ' Seek in ... your mem'ry. There it ... will be.'

Track length0:25

Ravel's use of tone colour to change the feeling of the music

Track length0:49

Further illustration of the same point

Track length0:27

Continued

Track length1:44

The nobility of the strings

Track length0:45

Bells evoked by French horns; the final, opulent, moving climax of the whole suite

Track length1:11

Le jardin feerique (complete)

Track length4:00

Classics Explained: RAVEL - Boléro and Ma Mère l’oye

Classics Explained: RAVEL - Boléro and Ma Mère l’oye

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