Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin

Description

Originally written as a suite for solo piano, Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) later orchestrated four movements from Le Tombeau de Couperin in 1919 (Prélude, Forlane, Menuet, and Rigaudon). This orchestral version was premiered in February of 1920 by conductor Rhené-Baton and the Pasdeloup Orchestra. Each movement of the suite was written in memory of Ravel's friends who had died fighting in World War I. It has remained one of Ravel's more popular works, with a ballet by the same name choreographed decades later by George Balanchine.

Instrumentation: 2(2dPiccc).2(2dEH).2.2: 2.1.0.0: Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set).