Robert Schmitz: Ravel Jeux d'eau

Duo-Art reproducing piano roll #6199
Jeux d'eau -- Maurice Ravel
Robert Schmitz, piano

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ravel
• Jeux
• d'eau
• piano

[jtennisfan0901]

well this is certainly a very different interpretation... while i think some parts are played quite well, others are just too fast and too dramatic... its supposed to sound dreamy...

2:56 sounds like shards of glass falling and mirrors shattering, not raindrops falling, like martha argerich's does.

[angela1894]

Imagine how difficult this is to play. Now imagine how difficult it'd be to compose something like this. We can rant and rave at the skill of people who play these songs, but their ability pales in comparison to the composers, who are at another level entirely. Playing music well is mostly a mechanical skill, composing music is a completely different skill which merits far more respect.

[ibclappin]

this is such an amazing and powerful musical deliverance

[Chanataas]

Argerich do it purely flawless!!but this???this is truly water (: I think that this performance captures the real title of this piece!

[MrJoful]

sehrgeil :D

[MrStrav81]

I'm familiar with Argerich's recording, which is also amazing. But I do like this performance of it. It definitely stands apart. The pedaling is very liberal.  It's not dry at all.

[godelike]

@cynic150 of course a pianist has to be musical... But Ravell still wasn't a virtuoso ;) and due to that his expression at the piano was not good, he even admitted it himself. He was extremely good at composing, though, and probably had the best hearing skills ever... I'm just saying that his piano technique was crappy, and therefore it was (apparently) not really pleasant to listen to his playing.

[cynic150]

I don't know how you can say he was "bad". This is just heresay and relative, and the thing to say. But, relative to whom? certainly he was exceptionally musical and that is ,to my mind, the most important trait a pianist should possess. Would you agree with that?

[godelike]

@cynic150 Ravel was actually a quite bad pianist. He was unable to play most of the pieces he would write... Especially gaspard de la nuit of course. I think he could play jeux d'eau, but not very well. Anyway, he was probably one of the greatest composers of all times, so who cares...

[cynic150]

I know what you mean. That was my first impression too at the start. However, I find that many composers play their own works in a different way from that of later interpreters, whether it fits the "norm" or not. This is, I feel, fantastically wet and fountain-like. I love it. What a terrific pianist/virtuoso Ravel was. There are so many moods, colours and effects and not over dreamy or sentimental. Mechanical pianos may not be perfect reproducers though.

[jilmjones]

yes it is different though...cant decide if i like it or not