Ravel Conc L Hand was one of several commissions for Left hand by Paul Wittgenstein, pianist who lost his R arm in WWI. Years ago, descriptions of this piece said something like "jazz influence," or some such, while to me it sounded very descriptive-e.g. of soldiers marching, contrasting sharply with a theme seemingly of childlike innocence. The whole piece affects me as an expression of disillusionment directly caused by the war. But I hasten to add, because everyone hears different, YMMV!
Just another perspective. Historical context is key to many pieces for me. Two others from that time: Roussel’s Sym 2 (1921—Roussel was in the French Navy before he was a composer, was an ambulance driver during WWI—long intro of 1st mvt seems like a lament with disbelief at the destruction—further on one could be a reminiscence of the activity of war, & depiction of civilian life away from the Front taking what pleasure they might). Different treatment of WWI: Ravel’s Conc for Left Hand.
WWI (1914-1918), used emerging technology to kill lots of people, surely must have caused ambivalence about machinery in people living in 1923. Great good and great evil were made possible by the technological revolution that had been gaining incredible speed throughout the 19th century. And, I still remember as a kid the scary thrill of being near the tracks when a speeding steam locomotive flashed by, its whistle bellowing, with occasional hot cinders and sudden bursts of live steam!
logoxyz
How nice! Thank you so much!
logoxyz
Ravel Conc L Hand was one of several commissions for Left hand by Paul Wittgenstein, pianist who lost his R arm in WWI. Years ago, descriptions of this piece said something like "jazz influence," or some such, while to me it sounded very descriptive-e.g. of soldiers marching, contrasting sharply with a theme seemingly of childlike innocence. The whole piece affects me as an expression of disillusionment directly caused by the war. But I hasten to add, because everyone hears different, YMMV!
Paawit Gala
I missed the steam locomotive, love the whistle sound. คิดถึงรถไฟ..อยากดึงหวูด..ปู๊น ปู๊น
Kenji Kobayashi
thank you for the nice movie of Pacific 231 !
logoxyz
Just another perspective. Historical context is key to many pieces for me. Two others from that time: Roussel’s Sym 2 (1921—Roussel was in the French Navy before he was a composer, was an ambulance driver during WWI—long intro of 1st mvt seems like a lament with disbelief at the destruction—further on one could be a reminiscence of the activity of war, & depiction of civilian life away from the Front taking what pleasure they might). Different treatment of WWI: Ravel’s Conc for Left Hand.
Karyonemos
i love how that sentence which is about trains looks like one
Andy Koehler
WWI (1914-1918), used emerging technology to kill lots of people, surely must have caused ambivalence about machinery in people living in 1923. Great good and great evil were made possible by the technological revolution that had been gaining incredible speed throughout the 19th century. And, I still remember as a kid the scary thrill of being near the tracks when a speeding steam locomotive flashed by, its whistle bellowing, with occasional hot cinders and sudden bursts of live steam!