Ravel’s charming Sonatine (given the diminutive title because its length is shorter than a traditional sonata) pays homage to the Classical form; however, it also makes subtle use of modern harmony. Ravel had a financial incentive for the work’s brevity, as it was originally penned for a 1903 competition by a fine-arts magazine calling for a 75-measure first movement of a piano sonata; the prize was 100 francs. Ravel, the only entrant, submitted a movement that was a few measures too long. No winner was declared as the magazine was nearing bankruptcy and cancelled the competition. The composer eventually completed the second and third movements in 1905.
Classical Music | Piano Music
Maurice Ravel
Sonatine Play
Recorded on 05/02/2012, uploaded on 05/02/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Ravel’s charming Sonatine (given the diminutive title because its length is shorter than a traditional sonata) pays homage to the Classical form; however, it also makes subtle use of modern harmony. Ravel had a financial incentive for the work’s brevity, as it was originally penned for a 1903 competition by a fine-arts magazine calling for a 75-measure first movement of a piano sonata; the prize was 100 francs. Ravel, the only entrant, submitted a movement that was a few measures too long. No winner was declared as the magazine was nearing bankruptcy and cancelled the competition. The composer eventually completed the second and third movements in 1905.
More music by Maurice Ravel
Rhapsodie espagnole
Blues, from Sonata for violin and piano
Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Faure
Noctuelles from Miroirs
Une barque sur l'ocean, from Mirours
Pièce en Forme de Habanera
Chanson romanesque, from Don Quichotte à Dulcinée
À la manière de Chabrier
Cinq Mélodies Populaires Grecques
Gaspard de la Nuit - Ondine
Performances by same musician(s)
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66
Scherzo No. 1 in b minor, Op. 20
Rhapsodie espagnole
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
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