Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 08/31/2011, uploaded on 12/24/2011

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Written during Ravel’s burgeoning maturity, the Sonatine is an example of his more than capable handling of the Classical traditions before him. The first movement is a well-structured sonata form (albeit utilizing Impressionistic harmonic colorings). Two themes emerge in the exposition—the first in tonic key of F-sharp minor, and the second in D major and B minor. Following this nearly textbook exposition is a dynamic and concise development section and a recapitulation that ultimately leads to a close in the tonic major. Owing to its diminutive form, the following minuet exists without a trio. Shifting to the key of the dominant (here spelt as D-flat major), it unfolds as a slow waltz, elegant and restrained but nonetheless building through moments of passion and intensity. Lastly, the toccata finale is the most technically challenging of the Sonatine’s three movements. Inspired in part by the keyboard writing of Couperin and Rameau, the movement shifts restlessly between 3/4 and 5/4 time and abounds in energy, driving the work to a brilliant conclusion.      

- Joseph DuBose