Chapter 67 French Music at the Time of World War I: Ravel and Satie

Lecture Overview History of World War I and its impact on music Maurice Ravel –life and works –Tombeau de Couperin, “Rigaudon” Erik Satie –life and works –Sarabande No. 2 for piano Cabaret Review

The Life of Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) 1875 born in Ciboure on the Atlantic coast of France just above the Spanish border; grows up in Paris 1889 enters preparatory division of the Paris Conservatory focusing on piano 1895 drops out of the Conservatory and turns to composition 1898 returns to Conservatory in the composition class of Gabriel Fauré 1921 settles in Monfort l’Amaury, a suburb of Paris 1928 tours the United States and Canada 1937 dies in Paris

Principal Compositions by Maurice Ravel Opera and ballet: 2 operas and ballets including –Daphnis et Chloe –La valse –Boléro Piano: character pieces, including the cycles –Miroirs –Gaspard de la nuit –Le tombeau de Couperin –Ma mère l’oye (4 hands) Orchestra: Piano Concertos and Concerto for Left Hand; character pieces (most are arrangements of works originally for piano, including an arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition) Chamber: includes the String Quartet, Sonata for violin and cello and for violin and piano; Piano Trio

Maurice Ravel, Le tombeau de Couperin (piano), 1914–17, “Rigaudon” Ternary form

The Life of Erik Satie (1866–1925) 1866 born in Honfleur 1878 enters Paris Conservatory 1880s pianist at the Chat Noir in Montmartre 1905 returns to school, at the Schola Cantorum in Paris 1911 serious compositions gain attention thanks to Ravel 1917 composes the ballet Parade for Diaghilev 1925 dies in Paris

Principal Compositions by Erik Satie Piano: character pieces Songs: include popular cabaret songs; Socrate for voices and orchestra Orchestra: scores for ballets, including Parade

Erik Satie, Sarabande No. 2 for piano, 1887 Free ternary form

Review Key Terms rigaudon Neoclassicism Chat Noir cabaret Parade Virgil Thomson