Topic by halpyoco

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Topic: Ravel - "Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn", "À la manière de Borodine"

"Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn"

This piece was commissioned in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Haydn's death. The spelling of "HAYDN" is transformed into the musical notes "B-A-D-D-G," forming the motif of the piece. It is a short work that showcases Ravel's skillfulness.

"À la manière de Borodine"

Like Debussy, Ravel had a strong interest in the music of the Russian Five. This piece is a short work modeled after the style of one of them, Borodine.

https://soundcloud.com/haruyasu-umetsu/...nom-dhaydn

https://soundcloud.com/haruyasu-umetsu/...e-borodine

Pianoteq 8
Steingraeber E-272

from Tokyo, Japan
HAL

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

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Re: Ravel - "Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn", "À la manière de Borodine"

halpyoco wrote:

"Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn"

This piece was commissioned in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Haydn's death. The spelling of "HAYDN" is transformed into the musical notes "B-A-D-D-G," forming the motif of the piece. It is a short work that showcases Ravel's skillfulness.

"À la manière de Borodine"

Like Debussy, Ravel had a strong interest in the music of the Russian Five. This piece is a short work modeled after the style of one of them, Borodine.

https://soundcloud.com/haruyasu-umetsu/...nom-dhaydn

https://soundcloud.com/haruyasu-umetsu/...e-borodine

Pianoteq 8
Steingraeber E-272

from Tokyo, Japan
HAL

Thank you again HAL for introducing me to music pieces I have never heard. 

Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn

Pleasing impressionistic music, although, like Debussy, Ravel rejected that term. And it is enjoyable music.


À la manière de Borodine

Beautiful.  Had not heard this one either  A gem. Sounds a bit Borodinelike
But a modern Ravel, sounds like some today-music, pop or   …..?
I like this one more than Menuet. It’s the tempo change and the nice ending 10 seconds. I can listen to this gem many many times. Thank you. It makes me feel glad 

Waitng for next

Best wishes,

Stig

Reply by halpyoco

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Re: Ravel - "Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn", "À la manière de Borodine"

Thank you Stig!

Hi, I agree with you. If anything, it is the minuet that reflects Ravel's style more. Debussy also composed a piece based on a motif related to Haydn's name for the same project, but he wasn't able to handle the motif as structurally as Ravel did.

Borodine was an exceptional melody maker, and I love his works for their charming melodies, such as the Nocturne from his string quartet, Symphony No. 2, and the Polovtsian Dances.

I think Ravel envied his talent as a melody maker. There is an interesting anecdote that suggests this. When Gershwin asked Ravel to take him on as a student, Ravel reportedly said,

'Why would you want to be a second-rate Ravel when you can be a first-rate Gershwin?'

Best regards,
HAL