DelawareScene: UD Symphony Orchestra: Ravel Transcriptions and the Musical Homage @ University of Delaware, Puglisi Orchestra Hall at Roselle Center for the Arts

UD Symphony Orchestra: Ravel Transcriptions and the Musical Homage

Claude DEBUSSY/ arr. Maurice RAVEL - Danse

Maurice RAVEL - Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess)

Modest MUSSORGSKY/arr. Maurice RAVEL - Pictures at an Exhibition

The UD Symphony Orchestra proudly presents a colorful program featuring Ravel's orchestral transcriptions of iconic piano pieces from a variety of composers, honoring the memory of beloved friends. By reimagining intimate solo works for the expansive orchestral palette, Ravel transformed these compositions into dazzling sonic landscapes, offering a unique opportunity to explore the rich and varied world of Impressionist music.

First on the program is Debussy's Danse, originally titled “Tarantelle styrienne.” While the title suggests a fiery, tempestuous Italian dance, Debussy’s interpretation is a subtle, impressionistic departure. Originally composed for piano, this piece underwent a transformative journey when Ravel orchestrated it in tribute to Debussy after his death. Ravel masterfully expanded the original’s intimate textures into a shimmering orchestral canvas. The resulting dance is a delicate balance of rhythmic vitality and harmonic nuance.

Maurice Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) is a hauntingly beautiful evocation of a bygone era. Composed in 1899, this exquisite miniature initially captivated audiences as a solo piano work before gaining even wider acclaim through Ravel's own orchestration in 1910. Rather than a mournful lament, the pavane invites us into a dreamlike realm, conjuring the image of a young Spanish princess lost to time. Ravel masterfully weaves together elements of the stately 16th-century dance form with his own impressionistic language, creating a tapestry of shimmering harmonies and delicate melodies. The piece unfolds with a sense of nostalgic longing, as if we are witnessing a forgotten ballet through a gilded haze.

Le Tombeau de Couperin is a poignant and evocative musical memorial. Composed during the tumultuous years of World War I, this suite serves as a tribute to the composer’s fallen friends, while simultaneously celebrating the elegant and refined style of the Baroque composer François Couperin. The orchestral version, while omitting the fugue and toccata from the piano suite, expands the sonic palette and brings new dimensions to the music. The delicate interplay of woodwinds, the glistening strings, and the rhythmic vitality of the percussion create a captivating and immersive listening experience. These transcriptions allow for intimate and nuanced interpretations, highlighting the work’s inherent beauty and versatility.

After intermission, we close the program with a captivating journey through an art gallery, not with our eyes, but with our ears. Modest Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite of ten movements inspired by a posthumous exhibition of paintings and drawings by his friend, Victor Hartmann. Each movement depicts a specific work of art, connected by interludes known as "Promenades" that portray the composer himself strolling through the gallery, pausing to contemplate each piece.

Mussorgsky's piano suite was composed in 1874, shortly after Hartmann's death. The ten movements capture a wide range of emotions and imagery, from the mischievous gnomes of "Gnomus" to the majestic grandeur of "The Great Gate of Kiev." The "Promenades" are equally evocative, sometimes pensive and introspective, sometimes bustling and energetic. While Mussorgsky's piano version is a masterpiece, it is Maurice Ravel's 1922 orchestration that has become the most popular today. Ravel, a master of orchestral color and texture, brings Mussorgsky's vivid pictures to life with a dazzling array of instrumental sounds. Fluttering woodwinds depict chicks hatching from their eggs, deep brass chords evoke the imposing presence of a medieval castle, and shimmering strings paint a scene of bustling Parisian gardens. Pictures at an Exhibition is more than just a collection of musical descriptions. It's a journey of imagination, inviting the listener to create their own mental images inspired by the music. So, sit back, relax, and allow yourself to be transported through the halls of this extraordinary exhibition.

Presented by University of Delaware, Department of Music.

Classical / Opera Music Schools & Universities Northern Delaware