Ravel's composing style was innovative and took a different direction than the atonality that attracted many of his contemporaries. Instead, he used modal melodies and applied the aesthetics of the French school of Satie, Chabrier and Debussy. He revered JS Bach throughout his life and placed a high importance on melody, stating that there is "an implied melodic outline in all vital music". His composing method was craftsman-like and perfectionistic. The intricacy and precision of his work was summed up by Igor Stravinsky who once referred to Ravel as "the most perfect of Swiss watchmakers."

On this recording Daniel Estrem performs his own transcriptions which are aimed at being as true to the written score as possible. The classical ukulele is used on sections of Pavane pour une infante defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess -track 4). When heard on plucked instruments the piece has an ancient aura, as if played on the Greek lyre and harp. The ukulele is also used throughout Ma Mere l'Oye (Mother Goose Suite -tracks 6-10). The childlike voice and timbre of the ukulele could hardly be more appropriate for this set of pieces that portray scenes from fairy tales. At the same time Ravel was writing the innocent Mother Goose Suite he was working on the devilishly difficult Gaspard de la nuit (Demons of the Night). The middle movement, Le Gibet (The Gallows -track 11) reveals a darker side of Ravel and decidedly deals with some end-of-life issues. There is the relentless toll of the bell throughout the entire piece. The influence of the writings of Edgar Allan Poe can be felt and even though the scene is macabre there exists a haunting beauty.

1. Prelude - Le Tombeau De Couperin (Maurice Ravel)
2. Piece En Forme De Habanera (Maurice Ravel)
3. A La Maniere De Borodine (Valse) (Maurice Ravel)
4. Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (Maurice Ravel)
5. Menuet - Le Tombeau De Couperin (Maurice Ravel)
6. Pavane De La Belle Au Bois Dormant - Ma Mere l'Oye (Maurice Ravel)
7. Petit Poucet - Ma Mere l'Oye (Maurice Ravel)
8. Laideronette Imperatrice Des Pagodes - Ma Mere l'Oye (Maurice Ravel)
9. Entretiens De La Belle et La Bete - Ma Mere l'Oye (Maurice Ravel)
10. Le Jardin Feerique - Ma Mere l'Oye (Maurice Ravel)
11. Le Gibet - Gaspard De La Nuit (Maurice Ravel)
12. Menuet Sur Le Nom De Haydn (Maurice Ravel)
13. Fugue - Le Tombeau De Couperin (Maurice Ravel)
14. Prelude (Maurice Ravel)
15. Valse (Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales) (Maurice Ravel)
16. Chanson Espagnole (Maurice Ravel)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 11/20/2010
Daniel Estrem lives in Minnesota USA

Tagged as: Classical, Impressionism, Instrumental, Composer: Maurice Ravel, Classical Guitar, Ukulele

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