Composer

:

Maurice Ravel

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Chanson

Compose Date

:

1898

Average_duration

:

4:13

Maurice Ravel's "Chanson du rouet" is a song for voice and piano, composed in 1906. It was premiered on May 5, 1907, at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris, with the composer himself at the piano and the soprano Jane Bathori as the soloist. The song is part of a set of three pieces called "Trois Chansons," which Ravel composed between 1906 and 1908. The other two songs in the set are "Nicolette" and "Trois beaux oiseaux du paradis." All three songs are based on medieval French texts and feature Ravel's characteristic use of modal harmonies and intricate piano accompaniments. "Chanson du rouet" is a lively and rhythmic song that tells the story of a spinning wheel (rouet) that spins thread from flax. The spinning wheel is personified in the text, and the song describes its movements and sounds as it spins the thread. The music is full of energy and motion, with a driving rhythm in the piano accompaniment that imitates the spinning of the wheel. The vocal line is also highly rhythmic, with frequent syncopations and irregular accents that add to the sense of motion and excitement. The song is in ABA form, with the opening and closing sections featuring the same music and text. The middle section is more lyrical and introspective, with a slower tempo and more expressive vocal line. This section describes the spinner's thoughts and feelings as she works at the wheel, and provides a contrast to the lively outer sections. Overall, "Chanson du rouet" is a charming and playful song that showcases Ravel's skill at creating intricate and evocative piano accompaniments. Its lively rhythms and catchy melodies make it a popular choice for recitals and concerts, and it remains one of Ravel's most beloved vocal works.

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