Ravel, Concerto in D for piano left hand

Completed in 1930, the same year as the Piano Concerto in G.

Ravel initially planned to write a concerto for himself, until he met the one-armed pianist, Paul Wittgenstein and dedicated this concerto for him to play. Wittgenstein, however, did not play the concerto as Ravel intended!

Listen out for the jazz influences.

If you listened to a recording of this piece, would you be able to tell that it was only played with one hand?

Ravel prevented attempts to publish an arrangement for two hands.

Can you hear an underlying melancholy feeling?

Listening points

Movement 1: Lento – Andante
After the slow orchestral introduction, there is a build up to the piano entrance, which is a virtuosic cadenza.
Listen out for the glissando at the end of the cadenza.
Listen for when there is a melody in the Cor Anglais, followed by the clarinet, with the piano accompanying.

Movement 2: Allegro
This movement follows straight on from the previous, beginning with brass and percussive chords on each beat of the bar.
Listen out for the jazzy rhythms – there is lots of syncopation.
There is a beautiful unaccompanied bassoon solo in the middle of the movement.

Movement 3: Tempo I
This movement follows straight on from the previous one and begins with a big glissando in the piano.
There is a long cadenza – listen out for the different lines in the music that are challenging for the pianist to play with just one hand!
The ending of this movement is loud, with the full orchestra.

MAURICE RAVEL 1875 – 1937

French composer.

Ravel had a variable reputation as a pianist – he played the piano from the age of 7, but was often not good enough to perform his own concertos!

Ravel was diagnosed as medically unfit, which prevented him from fighting in World War One.

Ravel travelled around Europe a lot after World War One.

Liszt’s orchestral music was an inspiration to Ravel – the virtuosity, colour and stylisation particularly appealed.