SKU: HL.51481508

Ravel's plans for a piano concerto can be traced back to 1906, but it was only in early 1929 that the composer seriously started work on one. He later stated that he wrote it “in the spirit of the concertos by Mozart and Saint-Saëns”, the music being “cheerful and brilliant” and not “aiming for profundity or dramatic effects”. The outer movements are characterised by rhythmic drive and borrowings from jazz; while the slow movement, with its subtle shifts of accented beats, is entirely dedicated to melody. Alongside manuscripts and prints, a recording made under Ravel's supervision by the work's dedicatee, Marguerite Long, was consulted for this Henle Urtext edition. Since its successful premiere in January 1932 the concerto has been part of the repertoire of all great pianists, including Pascal Rogé, the French music expert who has provided the fingerings for the solo part.

About Henle Urtext

What I can expect from Henle Urtext editions:

• error-free, reliable musical texts based on meticulous musicological research - fingerings and bowings by famous artists and pedagogues
• preface in 3 languages with information on the genesis and history of the work 
• Critical Commentary in 1 – 3 languages with a description and evaluation of the sources and explaining all source discrepancies and editorial decisions 
• most beautiful music engraving 
• page-turns, fold-out pages, and cues where you need them 
• excellent print quality and binding 
• largest Urtext catalogue world-wide 
• longest Urtext experience (founded 1948 exclusively for Urtext editions)

SKU: HL.49033177

ISBN 9790001134385. UPC: 073999928334. 9.0x12.0x0.136 inches.

The two pianos introduce the bass motif one after another. Every new entry brings an increase in tempo. Only when they play together, though, is the real 'Vivace unleashed. From then on, it is only in the 'largamente' sections and a lyrical middle section (cantabile) that the racing bass figure pauses for a while. The motif weaves its way through the course of the 'Toccata' like a 'perpetuum mobile', bringing ever more complex layering to the structure of the movement. The Latvian composer Peteris Vasks has described himself as a 'musician from the periphery' on account of his geographical and cultural background. His music full of emotional rigour continues to bring him towards the centre of contemporary composition, as is evident in his instrumental chamber works.

SKU: HL.49047047

UPC: 196288111061.

Igor Stravinsky originally wrote the Danses concertantes for a California-based entertainment orchestra. However, the five movementsare more than purely orchestral dances. The piece is reminiscent of a ballet suite. The two marches at the beginning and end mark the entrance (prologue) and departure (epilogue) of the dancers, with two of the middle movements - 'pas d'action' and 'pas de deux' obviously alluding to the ballet. The arrangement for two pianos by Ingolf Dahl is not just a reduction of the orchestral writing,but deliberately intended as an independent concert version.

SKU: HL.49045267

ISBN 9790001160278. UPC: 841886029927. 9.0x12.0x0.115 inches.

Black Earth was inspired by Kara Toprak, a popular song in Turkey. The composer of the song, Asik Veysel, was the last great Turkish balladeer. Fazil Say imitates the sound of the sax, a Turkish lute, through his selection of a muted effect in the Introduction and Epilogue. In contrast, folklore, Romantic piano style and jazz are entwined in the central sections to form a large-scale outburst. Now also available in an arrangement for two pianos.