RavelDonQuixote

March7,1875December28,1937

SongStyle
Ravelssongshaveasenseofflowandevennessofrhythmicstructurethatcallfor scrupulousexecution.(Kimball,p.212) PrecisionWroteclearinstructionsforinterpretation:dynamics,tempo,&phrasing. Raveloncecommentedthathesimplywantedpeopletoperformhismusic,not interpretit. Melody o Tendstowardadeclamatoryvocalstylethatwouldelevatetext. o Vocallinesimplerthantheaccompaniment o ReflectinfluenceofDebussy Poetry o Musicservesthepoetry. o Settingthetextwasofutmostimportancetohim,andhediditwell. o Usedvarietyofpoets,includingVerlaineandMallarm. o Affinityforvivid,dramaticworks,asseeninDonQuixote. o Preferredfreeverse Harmony o Colorful,intricate,elaborateharmony o Crisp,dissonantharmoniesareahallmarkofRavelssongstyle(Kimball,p.213) o Frequentuseof9th,11th,13thchords o Augmentedtriads o Dissonance o Pandiatonicism Rhythm o Energeticrhythmsgivemomentumtohisworks o OftenusedSpanishdanceforms,asseeninDonQuixote o Employedverystablemetricalform,incontrasttohisgarishharmonies Accompaniment o Oftenputthemostinterestingmusicalmaterialinthepianoaccompaniment. Perhapshedidthisinordertopreservetheclarityoftext. o Accompanimentsareformidableanddemanding

DonQuichotteDulcine(DonQuixotetoDulcinea)

Writtenin1932,itisthelastofRavelsvocalworks ComposedforafilmproductionofDonQuixote TextbyPaulMorand(18881976) Plotsummary:AlonsoQuixanoreadstalesofchivalrousknights,anddecidesto becomeaknighthimself.Thestoryrelateshismisadventures,andhisloveforthe ladyDulcinea. Comprisedofthreesongs,allofwhichimitateSpanishdancerhythms. 1. ChansonRomanesque(RomanesqueSong). Summary:reflectshisidealism,chivalrousambitions,andardorfor Dulcinea Mimicstheguajiradance,withalternating6/8and3/4meter. Listentopianoaccompaniment Steady,stable,regularmeter Lightdissonance Danceformbutstillartful,tasteful,expressive 2. Chansonpique(EpicSong). Summary:PleadingforSt.MichaelandSt.Georgetoshowfavoronhis expeditionsandbelovedlady. Basedonthezorzica,withquintuplemeter. Theprayerisintonedinlegatophrasessupportedbyanunadorned accompaniment. Chordalaccompaniment Bothpianoandvoiceexpressamoresolemntone Declamatorystyle 3. ChansonaBoire(DrinkingSong). Employsthetriplemeterofthejota. Asexpected,thedrinkingsongismuchmorelively,andless restrained. Pianomimicshislaughter Pianohiccupinthescore Accompanimentonceagainuseslightdissonanceandsteadyrhythms

ChansonRomanesque Sivousmedisiezquelaterre tanttournervousoffensa, JeluidpcheraisPana: Vouslaverriezfixeetsetaire. Sivousmedisiezquel'ennui Vousvientducieltropfleuri d'astres, Dchirantlesdivinscadastres, Jefaucheraisd'uncouplanuit. Sivousmedisiezquel'espace Ainsividnevousplatpoint, Chevalierdieu,lalanceaupoing. J'toileraisleventquipasse. Maissivousdisiezquemonsang Estplusmoiqu'vous,maDame, Jeblmiraisdessousleblme Etjemourrais,vousbnissant. Dulcine.

RomanesqueSong Ifyouweretotellmethattheearth, Initsendlessturning,offendsyou, IwouldquicklysendSanchoPanza: Youwouldseeitfixedandsilent. Ifyouweretotellmethatyourebored Bytoomanyflowerystarsinthesky, Iwouldteartheheavensapart, Erasethenightinonefellswoop. Ifyouweretotellmethatspace, Nowempty,doesntpleaseyou, Godknight,thespearinmyhand, Iwouldsowstarsinthepassing breeze. Butifyouweretosaythatmyblood Ismoreminethanyours,mylady, Iwouldgrowpaleunderthereproach AndIwoulddie,blessingyou. ODulcinea EpicSong GoodSt.Michaelwhogivesmeleisure Toseemyladyandtohearher, Goodst.Michaelwhodeignstochooseme Tobepleasingtoherandtoprotecther, GoodSt.Michael,willyoupleasedescend WithSt.Georgebeforethealter OftheMadonnainthebluemantle Mayarayfromheavenblessmysword Andhisequalinpurity Andhisequalinpiety Asinmodestyandchastity: Mylady. (OhgreatSt.GeorgeandSt.Michael) theangelwhoguardsmywatching, mysweetladyislike you,Madonnainthebluemantle! Amen.

Chansonpique BonSaintMichelquimedonnezloisir DevoirmaDameetdel'entendre, BonSaintMichelquimedaignezchoisir Pourluicomplaireetladfendre, BonSaintMichelveuillezdescendre AvecSaintGeorgessurl'autel DelaMadoneaubleumantel. D'unrayonducielbnissezmalame Etsongaleenpuret Etsongaleenpit Commeenpudeuretchastet: MaDame, grandsSaintGeorgesetSaintMichel L'angequiveillesurmaveille, MadouceDamesipareille Vous,Madoneaubleumantel! Amen.

Chansonboire Foindubtard,illustreDame, Quipourmeperdrevosdouxyeux Ditquel'amouretlevinvieux Mettentendeuillmoncoeur,monme! Ah!Jeboislajoie! Lajoieestleseulbut Ojevaisdroit... Lorsquej'ai...lorsquej'aibu! Foindujaloux,brunematresse, Quigeint,quipleureetfaitserment D'tretoujourscepleamant Quimetdel'eaudanssonivresse! Ah!Jeboislajoie! Lajoieestleseulbut Ojevaisdroit... Lorsquej'ai...lorsquej'aibu!

Drinkingsong Hayofthebastard,illustriouslady Who,forlosingmeinyoursweeteyes, Saysthatloveandoldwine Placemyheartandsoulinmourning! Idrink Tojoy! Joyistheonlygoal WhichIpursue...whenIvedrunk! Hayofthejealous,darkhairedmistress, Whocomplains,whoweepsandmakespromises, Alwaysbeingthepalelover, Wateringdownhisdrunkenness! Idrink Tojoy! Joyistheonlygoal WhichIpursue...whenIvedrunk!

RavelBiography

BornCiboure,BassesPyrnes,March7,1875 DiedParis,December28,1937 Beganpianolessonsatage7 Beganstudyingharmonyatage12 AttendedParisconservatory StudiedcompositionwithFaur SomestylisticsimilaritiestoDebussy Nevermarried Didnotestablishastudioorteachataschool ServedinWorldWarOne Died9daysafterbrainsurgery

 Bibliography BarbaraL.Kelly."Ravel,Maurice."InGroveMusicOnline.OxfordMusicOnline, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/52145 (accessedFebruary24,2011). Kimball,Carol.Song:AGuidetoStyleandLiterature.Redmond,Wash.:Pst...Inc.,1996. Ravel,Maurice.CollectedSongs.Medium/lowvoice.ed.Paris.Milwaukee,WI:Durand; DistributedbyHalLeonard,2004. Slonimsky,Nicolas,LauraDianeKuhn,andDennisMcIntire.Baker'sBiographicalDictionary ofTwentiethCenturyClassicalMusicians.NewYork:SchirmerBooks,1997. SparkNotesEditors.SparkNoteonDonQuixote.SparkNotesLLC.2003.http:// www.sparknotes.com/lit/donquixote/(accessedFebruary23,2011). Sturman,Marianne.CliffsNotesonDonQuixote.23Feb2011<http://www.cliffsnotes.com/ study_guide/literature/id87.html>.