Maurice Ravel - Pavane pour une infante defunte

[jadelammusic]

I really want to play this piece for my diploma! It's not the most technically challenging but so hard to play nicely.

[GigawingsVideo]

Thanks to a Pixar animation I found out about this song, great song!

[gnuhctube]

Almost the Best I've heard!!

[Dickybear36]

True to the score, and beautifully ethereal.

Composers are not always the best judge of a tempo for their pieces, and frequently not the best interpreters. Angela plays it the way I want to hear it.

Dickybear36.

[deusgodz]

c'est la fierté de la france ce gars....ravel ! je dis oui, encore oui et j'tamponne le dossier 3 fois!

très bonne interpretation de mme hewitt

[FindingSecretGarden]

Fantastique!!!

[TubeWatcherMK]

the picture should be impressionistic! but it is a wonderful version of pavane. i love when it is played slow

[UfoFrilla]

Really nice.

[NovaScotiaChick]

This piece reminds me somewhat of Erik Satie's work, a contemporary of Ravel.

[meanmon]

@NovaScotiaChick Are you referring to his Gynopedies"?...I'm no sure of the correct spelling but YES they are very similar and both are very beautiful....Well at least the first three Gynopedies to Pavanne.

[parunoal]

i must say i like the end at most, its fantastique!

[PznRen]

no, no. It's not made for piano and it sounds not so good. It's like playing Bach's cello suites at violin...

[drummerboy1138]

@PznRen The original version was for solo piano, though. He (Ravel) did eventually publish the fully orchestrated version, but this is the first version. And it sings just as beautifully as any orchestra ever could.

[HelenaLovesKateBush]

The most beautiful interpretation of this piece that I've ever heard!

[MetalApe]

Goosebumps... and Tears in my Eyes. Thank you so much for Posting!

[AntipovSvyatoslav]

Thank you for uploading! This is my favourite piece and in my opinion, the best performance: solo piano, like original, not too much pedal. I really like it!

[Noshirm]

@AntipovSvyatoslav From Wiki: "Subsequent performances (of this piece) tended to be much too slow and plodding. [I AGREE! What's your take on this, Svyatoslav?] In one instance, Ravel attended just such a performance, and afterward mentioned to the pianist that it was called 'Pavane for a Dead Princess', not 'Dead Pavane for a Princess'." (:-D) Slowness of tempo here does not necessarily indicate profundity of feeling. Ravel must have detested any labored 'over-interpretation' of his works!

[airmaxltd94]

not very powerful..

[experthowto]

Absolutely astounding. I love it so much. This piece always gets me emotional. Lovely picture too!

Sam

[flibbertergibbet]

With regard to this piece, Ravel once objected to an over-slow interpretation, saying: "It's the Princess who's dead, not the Pavane!"

[anzdf]

Toda la obra de Ravel es maravillosa pero esta pieza para mi es una de mis favoritas.

Te felicito, me ha parecido una bella ejecucion.

Adelante amigo, sigue asi.

[maten4]

…With deft phasing, timing and balance, the artist masterfully integrates the contrasting elements of simplicity and complexity with a seemingly effortless evolution of spontaneity and inevitable conclusion that moved me to a mixture of tears and goose bumps as the final note gradually faded away to another time and another place.

[Bix12]

@maten4 --beautifully stated...yes, I do believe you "get it". /:-) This is such a magical piece with such sublime transformative powers, combining deep sadness & loss with beauty profound, taking the listener to a very private, personal place.

[maten4]

This is one of the most intimate interpretations I've heard of what is arguably the most unusual, original and beautiful solo piano masterpieces of the early 20th century. The work defies categorization in its stylistic treatment of disparate thematic material, rich harmonic structures sculpted by subtle dissonance and rhythmic syncopation. (continued...)

[jerik70]

I actually haven't heard the original piano version before now, and honestly, I think it's better than the orchestral version, even without all the different colors.

[leolol007]

Tu joue très joliment mais la version pour orchestre est tellement encore mieux, car c'est encore plus émotionnel.

mais quand même bravo ! ;)

You play very nicely but the orchestral version is so much better, because it's even more emotional.

but still well done! ;)

[cosmicjazzer]

Beautifully played. Great sensitivity and depth in this performance...

[digifalc0087]

YourMagicOne, nice package. Great song (is Pavel living or deceased?) and image. For me, it is peaceful, mournful, just well done.

[YourMagicOne]

@digifalc0087 Joseph-Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 December 28, 1937). Thanks for your comment.

[rabies79]

@digifalc0087 Pavel? u meen Pavane? Well pavane is not a person. is a slow processional dance common in Europe during the 16th century (Renaissance

[YourMagicOne]

@rabies79 no, he ment Ravel I think - Joseph-Maurice Ravel ;)

[toadswildride]

@digifalc0087 this is the freaking Internet. What's stopping you from looking it up yourself?

[XVLaHireXV]

absolutely beautiful

[aiace85]

Wonderful image and unforgettable musica of Ravel, really weird!

[yourforte]

I love the spare way in which Hewitt plays this piece. No saccharin here.

[irishbelle65]

Stunning..breathtaking..thank you..

[HippieFlower13]

i'm playing this with my orchestra.... but im about to learn this on piano for my french project!!! i love this. gorgeous harmonies.....................­..... oh, the power of music.

[GeeeBlue]

Angela Hewitt inspired me to play bach (Fugas y preludios), but i didn't know she could play this ravel piece so good!

[MUSICOBLISS]

Wonderful !

please check out my video and be kind to comment

"Autumn serene "  by musicobliss

[punkpoetry]

she is a good player, yet this rendition has none of the otherworldly beauty one finds in the recordings made by Emil Gilels and Sviatoslav Richter

[mrmolinodelahoz]

That´s a nice metronome you have there under your hands.

Some like to collect watches and clocks too.

[rouninjutsu]

Very good interpretation! I didn't like the last two bars though; too loud and slow, it kills the mood, in my opinion.

[vipersquad]

This is a magnificent interpretation. I'm jealous! I wish I could play this well.

[Ms1Firefly]

Gorgeous

[MilesOfMusic92]

Amazing. I love Angela Hewitt.

[DaHipHopNerd]

For years I've only heard a version of this song from the video game, "Breath of Fire 4". but after looking on, wikipedia and finding out that this is the original, I am in awe.

[ctswright]

this is so pretty and haunting...someone recommended that i listen to ravel and i cant believe i had not known of his work sooner.

[pester1]

Who stole this tune, Gabriel Fauré from Maurice Ravel's Pavane pour une infante defunte or the other way around?

From my experience I know that older artists do not even consider it steeling if they do it from younger artists because the reputation of the older and more prominent will not allow public to suspect them in plagiary.

Anybody has an opinion on this?

[m1santhrop3]

no.

[uglyguido]

Thats probably the way it was back then, thats why we have copywrite laws these days.

[mziel53]

Which piece of Gabriel Faure do you mean?

[dvidcyl]

Neither of these composers stole from the other. This piece is by Ravel. There is no piece by Faure which sounds like it. Classical composers are honest about other pieces which they reference in their own works as in Brahms "Variations on a theme by Haydn." They may use a small bit here and there from someone else, but most is in the context of a piece the rest of which is completely original, as when Robert Schumann quotes the Marsailles in "Faschingsschwank Aus Wien."

[enigmaticsword]

Pavane is a type of dance. Nobody stole it from anybody. There are lots of pieces titled 'Pavane."

[florcha34]

¡¡¡ This is SO BEAUTIFUL !!!

Thank you very much for this...

[StephenChin1]

Tooooooooooooo fast, Angela. And...

[YourMagicOne]

Hi. Thanks for this comment. But do you think you're in an appropiate position to be able to judge an artist like Hewitt in this way? To fast, to slow... that is subjective, only your taste about the performed piece of music. Of course, only my option. Thanks again for your comment

[greybirds]

You're right. This song is usually played way too much sentimentally; Ravel used to rant about it, after all. Some versions are so melodramatic you'd think the poor princess drowned in a vat of corn syrup.

Which is fine, personal taste and all that, but criticizing someone who plays it properly (and very well) is really arrogant.

[NomadicHand]

These thumbs up/down options on comments is so silly. If you're going to let people comment on something their entitled to their own opinion. If you don't like it, simply ignore the comment or discuss it.

YourMagicOne, one could say everything is subjective. Some would agree he's in an appropriate position to judge an artist, others not.

On the comment of playing this piece too fast, if you listen to Ravel perform it, it's just as fast if not a tad faster :)

[Jcc477]

@YourMagicOne I agree. If you listen to Glen Gould playing Bach, he's going so much fast. And it sounds well anyway.

[MCjai1991]

@StephenChin1 listen to richter's interpretation for this and compare it with this one:)

[lyricaltones]

@StephenChin1 No, this tempo is just correct, very slow performance is a misunderstanding of this piece. It seems to be an elegy for a dead girl but in fact it's a particular stylization of the old dance: Ravel described it as "an evocation of a pavane that a little princess might, in former times, have danced at the Spanish court". He himself complained that the performances were too slow and mentioned that it was called "Pavane for a Dead Princess", not "Dead Pavane for a Princess".

[63daavid]

@StephenChin1 too fast indeed.it's a pavane not an enema.TAKE THE TIME to see the dead child laying on her couch.don't get rid of her that fast.(from France)

[Kamisongs9]

beautiful

[nibelungensohn]

I've heard numerous recordings of the Pavane, but after hearing Hewitt, everyone else sounds "wrong."

[mozart20dlubos]

I love this piece. So simple, yet so beautiful..

[nejishikihakootoko]

冒頭やその他の微かなタッチが

イエルク･デームスのよう

琴線に触れます

[YourMagicOne]

could you please write your comment in english again please? thx

[nejishikihakootoko]

Jorg Demus heard by the record 20 years or more before was remembered by this play.

Touch is very delicate.

I love this.

Sorry, I can't make myself in English so well.

But, Thanks for your response.

[YourMagicOne]

Thank you for your english comment. And your english is very good.

[andibonnington]

@nejishikihakootoko

Demus was, well still is a great panist, underrated and little known but his Bach was really superb, specially, his Well tempered klavier. This is the best rendition I've ever heard in my life.

My opinion,

[CarlosMacMartin]

Rest in Peace....Sandra Cantu

[nitenangel]

It's just how I've imagined it. There's a memory...then a memory of the memory...then a memory of the memory of the memory...

[bleu200695]

c'est merveilleu je n'ai pas de mots pour décrire une si belle chanson!! elle est triste et magique en meme temps!! sublime simplement sublime!!

[YourMagicOne]

Yes, it is really a nice song!! You also said it is sad and magic and simply serenely!! Thank you for this comment! And I have no words for this too ;)

[bleu200695]

that was simply wonderful!! and so beautiful!! it was Magnifique!!

[carlomercuri79]

sognante, misterioso, struggente.. eterno

[mourmelonti]

sublîme

[saxophonist8693]

uno dei pezzi piu belli che abbia mai ascoltato...

[lfork]

It's so beautiful

[lala926]

one of the most beautiful pieces written by ravel..

[pennymusicMAma]

YourMagicOne, Merci! Tres magnifique.-Penny

[musicformillions]

Infante = a Spanish queen or princess. Ravel was born in Ciboure, France a town very close to the border of Spain. His mother was from Spain and had a great influence on him. Several of his most popular works demonstrate this maternal influence; probably including this one.

[qlaw04]

I'm wellin'

This piece of music is beautiful yet triste. I've heard it before, heard it this morning on CBC Radio 2 as I was waking and couldn't get it out of my head.

With the whole theme being a "dead child" I'm thinking of the fact that Canada has now lost 100 soldiers, that's 100 children in Afghanistan.

I'm a soldier too and now am beginning to see why my own mom has difficulty coming to terms with my commitment to soldiering.

[musicperfumelaughter]

This is worthy of anybody's favourites

Shalom

[britandveg]

Such a wonderful example of impressionism as its best. The parallel chords of addition and planing just move me.

[elaineDPW]

Listen to this and imagine 100 pianos, 20 grand pianos and ten organs; we all were dressed in white. We played this in the coliseum in Detroit. We practiced at Grinnells on Woodward Ave. I will never forget this.

[fgonzlez]

precioso la pieza...

[YourMagicOne]

Yes... it is really a gorgeous composition :)

[jeanfrancoisk]

Quoique je ne conaisse pas cette pianiste, il me semble qu'elle interpréte excellemment. Merci.

[YourMagicOne]

De rien. :)

[jeanfrancoisk]

Mais, formidable, cette vidéo. J'adore cela.

[mny152]

awesome.. i enjoyed it very much! thank you

[Terrorschlag]

I so love this, this is pure gold.

[Lupos1987]

This is likely my favorite piece of classical music, just beating out Bach's Jesu, joy of Man's Desiring, and Chopin's Funeral March. It sounds absolutely stunning with a full orchestra, or with a lone piano.

[debartzen]

Bellísima.10

[debartzen]

Mejorable.

[debartzen]

Cieramente hermosa pavana.

[debartzen]

Intimo y pleno de sensibilidad.

[yourforte]

Thank you for posting this. I love this piece and I love the way Hewitt plays it. Fortunately it's not at an abominably slow tempo

[cziffra1980]

If this isn't 'abominably slow', I shudder to think what is.

[X52SY]

Beautiful piece and very good pianist. One of my favourite rendition is played by Nuccio Trotta. He's unkonwn but I'd like to invite watching his performances because I think that's a pianist worth listening in to. Thanks.

[jesemus33]

are you serius.....this is not a funny piece of music......is SO SADDDDDDDD is for a dead child, you need to be father to know what i'm talking about.....is a worst feeling than to be burned alive

[frashuzza]

I love this song.

[chelleyeoh]

Beautiful. Thankyou.

[pianiste02]

one of the best piece of Ravel.. Samson Francois is also good

[pennymusicMAma]

One of my favorites by Ravel. Do you have

Valses Nobles et Sentimentales in Piano...? I performed in graduate school. Tres Belle! -

Merci, Piano

[YourMagicOne]

No, unfortunately not. But why dont you search by youtube? ^^ rgds, magic

[pennymusicMAma]

Reply for YourMagicOne, I already have tried,to no avil. - penny (I performed piano version of "Valses Nobles et Sentimentales" in Music Graduate School at Performace Degree Concert & received A+ from judges, along with Mozart & Bach. (My favorites: DEBUSSY- my forte,Chopin,Liszt & Mozart.)

[YourMagicOne]

Penny... perhaps you already found it: de. youtube. com / watch?v=x8Q2xbaMGpU

[Insanelycoolprincess]

Beautiful

[jannokas85]

Probably the best recording of this piece i've ever heard. The ending sounds so reminiscent and sentimental and so gentle...my heart has been deeply moved by this!

[tonytabs]

Wonderful piece of music.I cannot stop playing it again and again.

[CiudadanaPerdida]

just magic

[YourMagicOne]

oh yes, i agree and it perfectly match to my nickname! :)

[wisjoh]

Beautiful playing.

[otterhouse]

Very nice... I only associated Hewitt with Bach...

-----------------------------

Rolf, Netherlands.

I am a collector of classical 78's and lp's

Click "otterhouse" above to see (and hear!)

some of my collection.

[soprano123]

What a beautiful setting for such a peaceful piece. I loved it. Thank you.

[cmlizmybff]

we have to play this @ U.I.L this year and i wanted 2 hear how it wud sound.Btw, I play French horn on this piece.

Thnx 4 posting it!!!!!!!!

[CILDAD]

A hoylake suset!!!!

[bjjcyou05]

Very Moving and Beautiful! Thank You.

[belva1996]

i enjoyed it. thanx

[YourMagicOne]

You are welcome. Thanx for adding this video to your Favorites.