Ravel Piano Trio

 Day 80

Ravel Piano Trio

Amatis Piano Trio

I think that my first experience of Ravel was the String Quartet, which was a set work for A level - I head it even before I had encountered Bolero. Since then I have encountered most of the major works and played a few of them - being in the middle of the texture of a piece like La Valse is a treat and gives you a real insight into Ravel’s orchestral technique.

I’d not heard the Piano Trio before - I’d come across it in the literature, particularly the references to the cross rhythms in the scherzo movement. It is a lovely piece which from the very opening couldn’t be by anybody else. The writing for the three instruments is highly virtuosic but never showy and the balance between the strings and the piano is well judged - it is notable that quite often Ravel writes for the two strings in unison to counter balance the piano. Perhaps the last movement strains the medium up to and beyond its limit but that was the only time that I felt that. I can imagine that it is really fun to play but the rhythmic complexities must be formidable. 

There is more Ravel chamber music to explore - I look forward to it.