Rapsodie Espagnole

Maurice Ravel

General Info

Year: 1907 /
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bravo Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $500 (rental)

Movements

1. Prelude a la Nuit
2. Malaguena
3. Habanera
4. Feria

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I
Oboe II (English Horn)
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Celesta
Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Castanets
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Rapsodie Espagnole is an orchestral rhapsody written by Maurice Ravel. Composed between 1907 and 1908, the Rapsodie is one of Ravel's first major works for orchestra. It was first performed in Paris in 1908 and quickly entered the international repertoire. The piece draws on the composer's Spanish heritage, and is one of several of his works set in or reflecting Spain.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Longest of Rapsodie Espagnole’s four movements, Feria (Festival) has room for a slow middle section featuring English horn. In the final section, where castanets are prominently featured, the restless four-note motif from the prelude returns to prompt an ultimate intensification of color and passion.

“By request from Hasse Junior High School Wind Orchestra I initially arranged the Feria, which premiered at the Al- Japan Band Contest national finals under the direction of Kazuhiko Tsuchiya. As Rapsodie was commissioned by a junior high band, one might think that I made musical and technical allowances in the score. The director advised me to ‘set the ideal orchestration and we will resolve difficulties in time,’ so I arranged it without regard to grade level. Any notes additional to the original score are not for compensation, but rather are ‘tricks’ for adapting Rapsodie Espagnole to the wind band. Recognizing and exploiting such enhancements is essential to its preparation.”

- Program Note from Hijiyama (Japan) Girls Junior & Senior High School Wind Orchestra concert program, 11 February 2016