Classical Music | Violin Music

Maurice Ravel

Tzigane  Play

Eugenia Choi Violin
Henry Wong Doe Piano

Recorded on 06/23/2010, uploaded on 11/05/2010

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Tzigane: Rhapsodie de Concert

In 1922, French composer Maurice Ravel attended a private performance by the Hungarian violinist Jelly d'Arányi, where he was instantly fascinated by her Hungarian Gypsy melodies. Tzigane was conceived that evening and finished two years later, both dedicated to and premiered by d'Arányi in London. The new virtuoso work created an immediate sensation.

Tzigane, the French word for "Gypsy", draws on both authentic Hungarian Gypsy music and classically stylized Style Hongrois, an inspiration to composers since Haydn. The piece is in two parts: a rhapsodic solo cadenza followed by a theme and variation dance that becomes increasingly boisterous, thus effectively evoking the passion of the Gypsies in both anguish and untamed joy. Although the music seems improvisatory, Ravel wrote, in fussy detail, every sound he wished to be created, thus leaving it to the performer to make it all seem spontaneously virtuosic.     Eugenia Choi