The Solo Piano Version of Maurice Ravel's La Valse

The solo piano version of La Valse is well worthy of §study and performance, but it has often been §unjustly neglected in reviews of Ravel s §piano music. La Valse was originally written as a §choreographic poem for a ballet performance. It was §only later transcribed for two pianos and for solo §piano. This book, therefore, discusses the thematic, §harmonic, and rhythmic aspects in the piece in light §of Ravel s compositional principles. In the chain of §waltzes, ten distinct melodic themes are identified. §The melodic material, phrase structure, scales, §modes, pedal point centers, tempo and rhythm are §also examined. Finally, the book focuses on the §challenges of performing the solo piano version and §suggests how performers might resolve some pianistic §and musical problems, such as three-staves writing §and glissandi. The book should help the pianists §practicing this amazing piece. In some §extraordinarily difficult passages, the performer §must show creativity and transcribe the piece once §again. As soon as the technical and creative §challenges are resolved, the pianist and the §audience alike are rewarded with a beautiful and §truly unforgettable piece.