How It's Done: Ravel Boléro

One of the repertoire's true miracles of orchestration, Boléro has some surprises in store if you pay close attention. It's much more than the same tune repeated over and over. Ravel not only uses many unusual instruments, such as the oboe d'amore and a group of saxophones, but he combines the more usual instruments in extraordinary ways. Here's an exceptional example.
Musical Excerpts courtesy of Ondine Records

[GGGB]

The Reason I LOVE Bolero is LESS IS MORE. So Simple yet so Complex.

[melissaking]

I love the section David sampled. The french horn/flute/celesta/piccolos do sound together sound like an organ. Amazing orchestration!

[detectivehome]

The way an overtone was explained was absolutely STELLAR. You have completely changed my conception of an overtone. You're a true born teacher.

[jackdahlquist]

The much-delayed appearance of the vioiins finally playing the first tune is dramatic and thrilling, and it stuns me every time. What a masterful wizard that Ravel was!

[deVriesOP]

I have to give you respect for listening to countless of recordings of the Bolero. After one listen I have more than enough of it for a while 😂

[markokassenaar]

I literally applauded behind my laptop when you said (I summarize) "F*** off, it is a masterwork. Now, let's dive into it"

[ftumschk]

What a fabulous piece of music this is, made even more fabulous when you know "how it's done". Thanks for the insights!

[AlexMadorsky]

Composers aren’t always the best judges of their own creations. Ravel may have come to see his most accessible, popular hit as a mere orchestrational exercise devoid of truly meaningful music, but Bolero’s fabulous excitements and sounds from snare drum to organ-y melody is deservedly loved. Thanks for this review of the oooh-ahhh sounds Bolero has to offer.

[farhadjavi]

That was really fascinating! I learned a lot and got a lot to listen for and think about! Thanks so much! Please do more of these videos.

[steveschwartz]

One of the things that makes that score a masterpiece is the unpredictable asymmetry of the two tunes themselves. Those tunes zig-zag and constantly surprise me.

[magnuskrook]

A talk on the "sheep music" from Strauss's Don Quixote would be much appreciated. It's all great fun, but also a fascinating piece of orchestration: the bleatings themselves, of course, and the rest of the orchestra contributing that eerie pastoral background drone.

[whistlerfred]

As someone who has played piccolo from time to time (mostly in marching bands) I can testify that to play anything pianissimo on that tiny beast is a challenge. And to do so in the awkward (for a piccolo) key of E Major, and in the high octave at that, makes it at least ten times harder. But what a wonderful, rich sound Ravel is able to get with this combination! Great series, by the way!

[Cesar_SM]

I have to say that this video is fabulous and so clear to follow! Thank you!

[tygertyger]

I love this music. My favorite recording of it is by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Carlo Rizzi on the Tacet label. The vinyl version (which I have) is played from the inner groove near the label to the outside. This is great due to the increasing dynamic range of the music. Happy to see this video on Bolero.

[robertdandre]

few years ago, me and my wife encounter a retired musician of montréal symphony orchestra, mr gilles moisan, who playing saxophone and bass-clarinet in the orchestra and .he participing to the recording of bolero with charles dutoit.i have a very interressting conversations with him about mr dutoit, etc ....and bolero and this passage to....you can hear mr moisan in l'arlesienne and other recording of mr dutoit....mr moisan is dead today, and i keep a very good souvenir of this man

[howardjohnson]

In another life, as a kid, my brother, sister, and I went to live with an Aunt and Uncle. As often as we could we'd get him to put us to sleep each night with this that was played on three 78 records

[ryanpollock]

After watching and pondering this video, it's like I'm hearing the Bolero for the first time again. This channel is just such a testament to what intelligent criticism/analysis can do. Gahhh I love it!!!

[jmcgraw]

It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to Bolero, yet such a memorable piece. Now I know deeply indeed “how it’s done”, some of why it is such an amazing listen.

This is my first time tuning into your channel, thank you so much!!

[janwillembultje]

What a fascinating lecture. I look regular at your videos and I think they are great. The series "How it's done is very interseting. Bravo and greetings from The Netherlands

[williamwhittle]

I agree: it's a masterpiece. Excellent presentation!