Classical Music | Cello Music

Recorded on 01/20/2010, uploaded on 06/13/2010

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Pièce en Forme de Habanera      Maurice Ravel

Through much of his early career Maurice Ravel was drawn to Spanish musical styles, perhaps in part because of his close friendship with the Spanish pianist Ricardo Viñes. Like many French composers of the time, Ravel tried his hand at writing the habanera, a Cuban dance form that was the rage in late 19

century Spain. All habaneras, including the famous aria from Bizet's 1874 opera Carmen, are characterized by the two-beat rhythmic pattern that we hear played by the piano in the opening measure of Ravel's Pièce en Forme de Habanera. The Pièce was originally written in 1907 as a Vocalise-étude for low voice and piano, on a commission from a professor at the Paris Conservatory, for use by his voice students.  Ravel later transcribed it for cello and piano.   Katherine Cherbas

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.