Solo Guitar - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.899132
Composed by Maurice Ravel. Arranged by Rod Whittle. Contemporary. Individual part. 2 pages. Maggie Creek Music #3868243. Published by Maggie Creek Music (A0.899132).
For solo classical guitar; 2 pp; intermediate difficulty.
Maurice Ravel (1875 -1937)
Ravel was born in the Basque region of France and much of his work shows a Spanish influence (this, together with his interest in jazz has produced some exceptional guitar transcriptions). He was a pupil of Faure and at first fell, like many contemporary composers, under Debussy's spell. However, his ascetic and intellectual bents produced from the start a refinement of composition and orchestration, and development of melody, all his own. Later music, including the Concerto, shows his love of the rhythmic features of jazz, and thoughtful incorporation of the innovations of modern music – strong dissonance, atonality etc.
Ravel wrote both music and lyrics for a number of songs including Trois Beaux Oiseaux du Paradis (Three Lovely Birds from Paradise - see below), composed in 1916 while he was posted in the French army during WW1, this at significant physical and mental cost (ref. Wikipedia). Thus the tragic lyrics arise from experience, and the music (Ravel was 40) is typically expressive and uncomplicated with the usual harmonic surprises.
Three Lovely Birds from Paradise (English translation)
Three lovely birds from Paradise
(My beloved has to the fighting gone)
Three lovely birds from Paradise
Have flown along this way.
The first was bluer than Heaven's blue,
(My beloved has to the fighting gone)
The second white as the fallen snow,
The third was wrapped in bright red glow.
'Ye lovely birds from Paradise
(My beloved has to the fighting gone)
Ye lovely birds from Paradise
What bring ye then this way?'
'I bring to thee a glance of azure
(Thy beloved has to the fighting gone)
And I on fairest snow white brow
A fond kiss must leave, yet purer still.'
'Thou bright red bird from Paradise
(My beloved has to the fighting gone)
Thou bright red bird from Paradise,
What brings thou to me?'
'A faithful heart all crimson red,
(Thy beloved has to the fighting gone)'
'Ah! I feel my heart glowing cold…
Take it also with thee.'
Maurice Ravel (1914)
