PlayPiano
The short answer
Water imagined through a solo piano. Jeux d’eau, M. 30 is a character piece by Maurice Ravel. PlayPiano puts it at Level 9, an estimate.
- character piece
- Key of E major
- dreamy
Also known as Maurice Ravel: Jeux d'eau.
History
Jeux d'eau dates from 1901. The publisher describes it as an early solo-piano exploration of floating harmonies and shimmering, water-like sonorities. That description offers a listening idea for the piece: its water character comes from the sound of the piano, rather than a recorded sound effect or a literal story assigned to each bar.
Sources
What to listen for
Two kinds of colour
Compare broken seventh- and ninth-chord figures with the pentatonic second theme, then hear the opening return over G-sharp.
How to practise it
Keep the rapid upper shapes light over changing paired support.
- Practise one sixteenth shape into its thirty-second group slowly.
- Practise the lower pairs alone, then add one upper group at a time.
- Connect the examined gestures slowly while keeping the stated layers distinct.
How hard is it
Rapid shimmering figurations, layered voicing and wide-ranging keyboard movement require advanced coordination, evenness and precise sound control.
About this piece
- Collection
- French piano colors
- Licence
- CC0
- Source
- musescore.com
More by Maurice Ravel
- Prélude (1913)Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
- Pavane pour une infante défunte, M. 19Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
