The famous BolÃ©ro and the enchanting Mother Goose Suite give us Ravel the orchestral sorcerer at the peak of his unsurpassed powers. From the fierce vitality of sun-baked Spain to the most poignant evocations of childhood and innocence, he captures the immediacy of experience as we feel it. Yet he saw himself as an artisan, not an artist, and a discoverer rather than a composer. Behind every work was a craftsman of astonishing skill - so astonishing that we can examine the artistic workshop in minute detail without dispelling any of the magic. 'BolÃ©ro is the most formula-ridden, deliberately repetitious piece of music ever to enter the mainstream concert repertoire,' says Jeremy Siepmann. Ravel himself regarded it as an experiment in form - yet it has proved one of the most popular and seemingly spontaneous works in all classical music. In his informative manner, Siepmann explains, 'Ravel seems to put all his cards on the table right at the outset... but like all top-class magicians... he had endless surprises up his sleeve.' With the surprises revealed, the spotlight put also on the enchanting Mother Goose Suite, and Ravel's fascinating life and behavior related in the accompanying booklet, this is a compelling recording.

Tracklist:

Bolero: Introduction; Cue To Unadorned Bolero Rhythm, Part 1
Bolero: Bolero Rhythm, Part 2: An Extended Variation Of Part 1
Bolero: 'Motto' Rhythm Complete (Instrumentation Will Change On
Bolero: But Here We Have Snare Drums And Plucked Violas And Cell
Bolero: Section 1: Introduction Of 'The Theme: (The Only One In
Bolero: Flute Continues With Part 2 Of Theme
Bolero: Section 2: Complete Statement Of Theme By Clarinet As Fl
Bolero: Introduction Of 'Discordant' Harp Into The Unfolding Pic
Bolero: Section 3: Bassoon Introduces Closely Related Variant Of
Bolero: ...But Then Veers Upwards, Slowing Rhythm And Introducin
Bolero: Section 4: 'Petite' E Flat Clarinet Takes Over Theme, In
Bolero: Section 5: Oboe D'Amore Takes Over Theme But Returns To
Bolero: Section 6: Theme Now Shared By Two Instruments: Muted Tr
Bolero: Section 7: Tenor Saxophone Takes Theme As Trumpet Replac
Bolero: Section 8: Theme Taken By Soprano Saxophone, 'Espressivo
Bolero: Section 9: Theme: Celeste, Piccolos And Horn; Motto: Flu
Bolero: Section 10: Theme: Oboes, Horns, Clarinets; Motto: Pluck
Bolero: Section 11: Theme Taken By First Trombone, Complete With
Bolero: Section 12: Theme: Flutes, Oboes, Clarinets, Sax; Motto:
Bolero: Section 13: Violins At Last Take The Main Tune, Joining
Bolero: Section 14: Violins Divide Into Four Groups, Each 'Doubl
Bolero: Section 15: Trumpet, Trombone 2 And Tuba Join The Foregr
Bolero: Section 16: First Trombone And Soprano Saxophone 'Rejoin
Bolero: Section 17: Fortissimo; All Strings 'Double-Stopping'; T
Bolero: Section 18: Entire Orchestra Now Employed, 'As Loudly As
Bolero: Section 19: Sudden, Amazing Change Of Key, Lurching From
Bolero: Section 20: Key Now Lurches Back To C, As Jazzy Trombone
Bolero: Cue To Complete Performance
Bolero: Bolero (Complete)
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Opening Fi
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Same Again
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Answering
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Reminder O
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: ...And Now
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Answering
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Pivotal Ph
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Reprise Of
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant: Further Re
Ma Mere L'Oye: 1. Pavane (Complete)
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Introduction; Openin
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Changes Of Metre Con
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Oboe Yields To Cor A
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Theme One Returns, S
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): 'Motto' Rhythm Domin
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Fear Subsides As The
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Sensational Sound Ef
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): Texture Thins; Theme
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Tom Thumb): The Main Part Of Mov
Ma Mere L'Oye: 2. Petit Poucet (Complete)
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: Introd
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: Orient
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: ...Obo
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: Expand
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: Fragme
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: 'Gamel
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes: Arriva
Ma Mere L'Oye: 3. Laideronnette, Imperatrice Des Pagodes (Comple
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Open
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Char
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Clar
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Vari
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Agai
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Deri
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: 'Bea
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: 'Bea
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: 'Bea
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete: Harp
Ma Mere L'Oye: 4. Les Entretiens De La Belle Et De La Bete (Comp
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: Introduction; Opening Bars
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Rhythmic Basis, And It
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Question Intensified:
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Answer, With A Falling
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Plea: 'Bring Back My C
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Response: 'Seek In...Y
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: Ravel's Use Of Tone Colour
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: Further Illustration Of Th
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: Continued
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: The Nobility Of The String
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique: Bells Evoked By French Hor
Ma Mere L'Oye: 5. Le Jardin Feerique (Complete)

UPC: 636943803226
Label: Naxos
Release Date: 7.17.01
Format: CD

Jeremy Siepmann - Introduction to Ravel: Bolero & Ma Mere L'oye (2 CD)