Concerto in G major is a piano concerto by Maurice Ravel composed in the period of 1929–1931. The piece is comprised of three movements: A piano concerto is a concerto for solo piano and orchestra. ... Joseph-Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937) was a French composer and pianist, known especially for the subtlety, richness, and poignancy of his music and generally considered to be one of the major composers of the 20th century. ... In music, a movement is a large division of a larger composition or musical form. ...

1. Allegramente
2. Adagio assai
3. Presto

After his well-received piano tour of America, Ravel wanted to debut this new work himself. However, health issues precluded this possibility with his preparatory practice of Liszt and Chopin etudes leading to fatigue. Instead, Marguerite Long — who was known for her performances of Fauré and Debussy, and had asked Ravel for a new work — debuted the concerto. Ravel dedicated the concerto's score to her. The world premiere was on January 14, 1932 with Ravel conducting the Lamoureux Orchestra. The first North American performances were given simultaneously on the evening of April 22, 1932, by both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra at their home concert halls. Portrait of Franz Liszt, painted in 1839 by Henri Lehmann. ... The only known photograph of Frédéric Chopin (commonly mistaken for a daguerrotype), taken by Louis-Auguste Bisson in 1849. ... Marguerite Long (November 13, 1874 - February 13, 1966) was a French pianist. ... Gabriel Urbain Fauré (May 12, 1845 – November 4, 1924) was a French composer, organist, pianist, and teacher. ... Claude Debussy, ca. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... The Orchestre Lamoureux (officially known as the Société des Nouveaux-Concerts and also known as the Concerts Lamoureux) was an orchestral concert society which gave weekly concerts by its own orchestra, founded in Paris by Charles Lamoureux in 1881. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ...

The piece begins immediately with the crack of a whip. In performances of the Ravel Piano Concerto in G in which a second piano substitutes for the orchestra, it has become customary to snap the lip of the piano keyboard lid, creating a sound similar to that of the whip. The piano soloist begins straightaway with florid arpeggiated fingerwork in the high range of the piano, which leads into accented jazz-inspired melodies, in part recalling the composer's American travels. The whip or slapstick is a percussion instrument consisting of two wooden boards joined by a hinge at one end. ... Jazz is an original American musical art form that originated around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in African American musical styles blended with Western music technique and theory. ...

The first and last movements (Allegramente and Presto) are heavily imbued with exciting jazz melodies, although they retain classical elements. The first movement is a flowing, lively piece with harmonies that resemble those of Aaron Copland. The beautiful, contemplative second movement in E-major (Adagio assai) showcases the Impressionist Ravel in his element. The cadences are some of the most gorgeous in the repetoire. The final statement of the melody of the second movement features an extended solo for cor anglais during which the piano soloist, playing flowing lines of thirty-second notes, takes a secondary role. The third movement is a virtuosic, incredibly fast piece which uses many bouncing, light melodies combined with forceful ones to make the third movement an amazing experience to play (and difficult.) The overall effect of the concerto is that of an astounding impressionistic work, and definitely Ravel at his best. See also Impressionist (entertainment): A girl with a watering can by Renoir, 1876 Impressionism was a 19th century art movement, which began as a private association of Paris-based artists who exhibited publicly in 1874. ... A cor anglais The cor anglais, or English horn, is a double reed woodwind musical instrument in the oboe family. ...

External links

• Classical Cat, Concerto in G - Various Recordings
• http://newyorkphilharmonic.org/programNotes/Ravel_PianoConcertoinG.pdf

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