Ravel - Forlane and Rigaudon

Forlane 

Rigaudon 

Jean-Philippe Collard, piano

A lot of people don't know that the pieces in the Tombeau de Couperin were all written in memory of men Ravel knew who died in World War 1.   The Forlane is dedicated to the memory of Gabriel Deluc, the Rigaudon to the brothers Pierre and Pascal Gaudin.  That fact was the basis of my playing of them, way, way back when I played it.  It can make all the difference between presenting them as frippery - how they're often presented - or as substantial music.

I post this in memory of one of my teachers who I just heard died. He taught the pieces to me.