Violin Sonata No. 2 (Ravel)

Ravel, 1925

Maurice Ravel's Violin Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano was composed from 1923 to 1927; it was inspired by forms of American music such as jazz and blues.

This work was the only violin sonata published during Ravel's lifetime; the existence of the Violin Sonata No. 1 only came to be known long after Ravel's death. For that reason this sonata was, and still often is called Ravel's "Violin Sonata" without numbering.

Inspiration

When the composer was living in Montfort-l'Amaury, France, he accompanied Hélène Jourdan-Morhange, and they shared a love for jazz. The classic blues band of W. C. Handy exhibited the style of St. Louis blues in Paris from 1923 to 1927. Ravel was inspired by the style of music and dance, and jazz elements can also be found in the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand and other works.

Movements

The violin sonata consists of three movements:

1. Allegretto (G major)
2. Blues. Moderato (A♭ major)
3. Perpetuum mobile. Allegro (G major)

References

Notes

Sources

• Kelly, Barbara L. (2001). "Ravel, (Joseph) Maurice". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.52145. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
• Stuckenschmidt, H. H. (1968). Maurice Ravel: Variation on His Life and Work. Philadelphia: Chilton Book Company.

Further reading

• Baer, Susan Irene (1992). The Virtuoso Violin Works of Maurice Ravel: An Analysis of Structural, Technical and Interpretive Features (PDF) (Phd). Texas Tech University.

External links

• Violin Sonata No. 2: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Performance of Violin Sonata No. 2 by Nicola Benedetti (violin) and Julien Quentin (piano) from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in MP3 format