The Genius of Ravel's Mother Goose Ballet

Even music as magical, as effortless, as "light" as this enchanting ballet has some remarkably impressive formal elements holding its six diverse sections together. In this chat, we discover one of the ways that Ravel applied his genius to the task of turning what started out as a little suite of piano pieces into a cohesive larger work. It's amazing.
Musical Examples courtesy of Naxos Records

[jackdolphy]

I have enjoyed repeat listenings to many of your installments Dave. ‘However!’ this one is the one I have returned to most often. I’ve been a deep listener of Ravel for well over 50 years now. And you sir I Thank You for filling a huge hole in my adventures with Ravel by giving me the gift of this glorious work. Ever many thanks 🙏🏼

[mancal]

These little talks make me fall in love with classic pieces you thought you knew, all over again. Beauty feeds the soul.

[melodymaker]

Ravel is an underrated monster and “Mother Goose” is glorious. I love “Le Tombeau de Couperin” even more… the piano version is great but the orchestral even better

[ellenmmartin]

Everything Ravel composed is still in repertoire! That's a sign of a particular kind of genius.

[benfarr]

I just discovered your analyses! So enjoyable, as they spring from the enjoyment of the listener and not the theorist! Thank you! I look forward to listening to more!

[grantparsons]

I share your love of this work, Dave. I was introduced to it as a child & it's been close to my heart all my life. The orchestral colours in the Cluytens PCO recording are quite magical; in all their Ravel performances, in fact.

[francoisjoubert]

This can be a very interesting series too - the genius of Schubert’s xxxx or Verdi’s Otello or …, the list is endless!

[carlconnor]

David, I couldn’t explain why I’ve marveled at Mother Goose. Well, you just did!

[chrisgately]

Forty years ago, while studying to become a Master Carilloneur in Douai, France, my friend Frank DellaPenna was given an assignment to reduce and arrange the piano version of Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" for the carillon. Twenty years later, I recorded his version of the piece for carillon and MIDI orchestra for his "Spirit Of The Bells" CD. It's been a crowd pleaser at his concerts.

[daviddavenport]

Bravo about the is the motive turned into church bells ringing out..."and they lived happily ever

[daviddavenport]

I LOVE Mother Goose....have been fortunate to play and conduct the Suite several is gorgeous....I opined to a friend once that Ravel might have been the very best composer of the 20th had a very high opinion of Ravel....l'Enfant is one of the most amazing works of the Century as well....

[OuterGalaxyLounge]

It's such a masterwork. Great timing on this talk, as I'd been listening to several of my recordings of it lately. It never gets old.

[FleuveAlphee]

You got it all right! Thank you so much for this little anatomy of wonder.

[laurentco]

Is there anything more glorious than that finale? Well, O.K., there are, but it definitely is wonderful!

[ericleiter]

Yes, yes I think you are on to something doing a whole series out of this idea...I thought this was a great chat, and I always love when you play music examples ( I know it's not easy to get away with), but what a great way to, as you said, reinvigorate one's appreciation of the great composers and their works in a series like this, great video!!!

[donaldhouse]

Thanks for bringing this rondo structure to Ma mère l'Oye to our attention! I wonder if Pictures at a Exhibition sparked this idea in Ravel?

[retohofmann]

09:28 Beautiful!!! Didn't know it, thanks a lot!

[MegaVicar]

Fantastic! I've long enjoyed this piece, and that detail about the end being written first makes it more miraculous. I marvel at the combination of craftsmanship and beauty in many of the 20th century French composers.

[edu]

I have to say, one of my favourites performance of Mother Goose is the one of the Ravel Album of TOMITA. I love that one, it is unique and the way he uses the synthesizer makes me feel the Mother Goose in a different but great way.

[davidstrumsky]

Wow. Another episode where "genius" and "beauty" are pointed out and I have to realize that, even tho unconsciously I was aware, I'd never known the why. Thanks, Dave, for revealing more of Ravel.