Maurice Ravel
French composer, 1875-1937
Ravel is often associated with impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In the 1920s and ’30s Ravel was internationally regarded as France’s greatest living composer. He liked to experiment with musical form, as in his best-known work, Boléro (1928), in which repetition takes the place of development. He made some orchestral arrangements of other composers’ music, of which his 1922 version of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition is the best known. Ravel was among the first composers to recognise the potential of recording to bring their music to a wider public.
Source: Wikipedia
Komponist (1875-1937). Autograph letter signed. O. O. u. D. 1 S. 8vo.
$ 2,698 / 2.500 €
(35037)
To the French politician, theater critic and poet Georges Pioch (1873-1953), asking where and when to return a manuscript he had promised as his contribution for a music album. – On stationery with embossed address and black border; small damage to edges, and one larger tear at upper margin.
Komponist (1875–1937). Autograph letter signed. o. O. 8vo. 2 SS.
$ 1,942 / 1.800 €
(54534)
Ravel accepts an invitation for the following Saturday, hoping that, due to a visit to the opera the preceding night, he will not fall asleep on the train: “Mon cher ami. C’est entendu pour Dimanche. Je prendrai le train de 12h 50, ou, si je le rate, le suivant. Je tâcherai de ne pas m’endormir dans le train, devant la nuit précédente l’Opéra ! Cordialement”.
Komponist (1875-1937). Autograph letter signed. O. O. 3 SS. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo.
$ 4,856 / 4.500 €
(49539/BN33971)
To an unnamed addressee: "Cher Monsieur, Voici déjà quelque temps que je vous avais promis une réponse. J'en ai été empêché jusqu'à présent par des travaux assez fastidieux, réductions, corrections d'épreuves, etc. mais qui ne souffraient aucun retard. Est-il encore temps de vous envoyer le court fragment ci-joint, et cela vous suffira-t-il? Ce sont quelques mesures tirées d'une 'Rapsodie espagnole' exécutée dernièrement au Concert Colonne. Si vous en désirez davantage, et que vous ayez besoin de quelques renseignements complémentaires, je me mets à votre entière disposition [...]".
- "For some time now I have promised you an answer. I have hitherto been prevented by a lot of work, corrections of proofs, etc. which did not suffer any delay. But it is still time now to send you the short fragment attached, and will that suffice you? These are some measures taken from a 'Rapsodie espagnole' performed recently at the Concert Colonne. If you want more, and you need some additional information, I place myself at your disposal [...]" (transl. from the French original)..
French composer (1875-1937). Portrait signed. Paris. 171:165 mm. Matted and framed (420:382 mm).
$ 8,093 / 7.500 €
(72894/BN46992)