Glenn Gould plays Ravel`s La Valse

[rojo]

Found something great at youtube - here`s Glenn Gould playing Ravel`s La Valse. Prepare to be amazed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rk-7f...elated&search=

Part two-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTgus9CfwKc

(Versions by Lim Dong-hyek and Berezovsky can be found there as well.)

I had heard Gould play this piece in a recording on the radio (cbc) many moons ago, but this doesn`t sound like the same recording.

I was quite stunned by this performance. The opening is almost staccato, (no pedal obviously,) and is far from the ppp indicated in Ravel`s transcription for solo piano. (Yes, I`ve got it.) Overall I agreed with a lot of the tempi, especially the last two or three minutes. The richness of Gould`s transciption is very enjoyable. However, there is a certain 'muddiness' here. Now, it makes sense, considering what Ravel was getting at in this piece. But I think I prefer a bit more clarity in certain spots. What a wonderful performance though; Gould was really something else.

[rojo]

I`ve listened to it again. Interesting that in measures 5-11, he uses staccato; in Ravel`s version the six note figure has a phrasing mark over the top, and only the first F is indicated as staccato (which is already odd.) And in measures 9-11, he accents the top F and not that low E as indicated in Ravel`s transcription. And it`s quite a bit louder than ppp. Here`s what Ravel said about the opening-

"Through rifts in swirling clouds, couples are glimpsed waltzing. As the clouds disperse little by little, one sees an immense hall peopled with a whirling crowd. The scene becomes progressively brighter. The light from chandeliers bursts forth at fortissimo (letter B in the score). An Imperial Court, around 1855."

To me, the opening should be ppp.


I think the 'muddiness' that I referred to earlier is minimal, and I don`t think it`s because of Gould`s transcription. It`s in a section where Gould has the pedal down for an extended period.

[Krummhorn]

It was an interesting listen ... although I must admit never having heard the piece before this. To my ears, some of the chord progressions and themes are almost like Debussy. Did Debussy have an effct on Ravel in this respect?

I enjoy these musical experiences that originate within this forum - gives me more insight to music apart from my normal genre of classical organ.

[rojo]

Yes indeed, the rich chords are used to perfection by these, my two favourite composers. They are both considered Impressionists, yet their compositions are quite different. They composed around the same time frame, so probably there was some mutual 'influencing' going on. That being said, they each had their own unique style...

Ravel`s La Valse is my second favourite all-time piece of music. His Daphnis and Chloe is my third favourite. I usually prefer La Valse played by orchestra, but it works extremely well on piano as well. (Debussy`s La Mer is my fave, in case you didn`t know... )

Thanks for your thoughts, Krummhorn; I enjoy finding new music here as well.

[Andrew Roussak]

Hi Rojo, thanks a lot for the second part - the piece becomes slowly one of my favourites too, I guess I will listen to it once and once again in the coming days. Here as well a couple of my remarks on the subject -
I believe as the composers have discovered the -11 and -13 chords, they just had no desire to use triads anymore. It might be therefore not necessary the consequence of the fact that Debussy and Ravel knew each other - they just both lived and created in the same period of time, and in the same land.
Staccato - I would say it is just a trademark of a Glenn Gould style. He uses it also playing Bach in such phrases where I would never even think of using it - but it really brings an unbelievable clarity to the musical flow.
Good Luck,
Andrew