Debussy/Ravel: Chamber Music at Music Hills.com

Music CD 1

Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: No. 1, Allegro vivo
Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: No. 2, Intermede
Sonata for violin & piano, L. 140: No. 3, Finale
Sonate en trio, for flute, viola & harp, L. 137: No. 1, Pastorale
Sonate en trio, for flute, viola & harp, L. 137: No. 2, Interlude
Sonate en trio, for flute, viola & harp, L. 137: No. 3, Finale
Syrinx, for solo flute, L. 129
Sonata for cello & piano, L. 135: 1. Prologue. Lent
Sonata for cello & piano, L. 135: 2. Serenade. Moderement Anime
Sonata for cello & piano, L. 135: 3. Finale. Anime
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 1, 'Chant pastoral'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 2, 'Les Comparaisons'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 3, 'Les contes'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 4, 'Chanson'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 5, 'La partie d'osselets'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 6, 'Bilitis'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 7, 'Le tombeau sans nom'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 8, 'Les courtisanes egyptiennes'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 9, 'L'eau pure du bassin'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 10, 'La danseuse aux crotales'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 11, 'Le souvenir de Mnasidica'
Chansons de Bilitis, incidental music for narrator, 2 flutes, 2 harps & celesta, L. 96: No. 12, 'La plui du matin'

Music CD 2

Sonata for violin & cello: No. 1, Allegro
Sonata for violin & cello: No. 2, Tres vif
Sonata for violin & cello: No. 3, Lent
Sonata for violin & cello: No. 4, Vif
Trois poÃ¨mes de StÃ©phane MallarmÃ©, song cycle for voice & ensemble (or piano): No. 1, 'Soupir'
Trois poÃ¨mes de StÃ©phane MallarmÃ©, song cycle for voice & ensemble (or piano): No. 2, 'Placet futile'
Trois poÃ¨mes de StÃ©phane MallarmÃ©, song cycle for voice & ensemble (or piano): No. 3, 'Surgi de la croupe et du bond'
Chansons madÃ©casses, song cycle for soprano, flute, cello & piano: No. 1, ''Nahandove'
Chansons madÃ©casses, song cycle for soprano, flute, cello & piano: No. 2, 'Aoua'
Chansons madÃ©casses, song cycle for soprano, flute, cello & piano: No. 3, 'Il est doux de se coucher'
Piano Trio in A minor: No. 1, Modere
Piano Trio in A minor: No. 2, Pantoum (Assez vif)
Piano Trio in A minor: No. 3, Passacaille (Tres large)
Piano Trio in A minor: No. 4, Finale (Anime)

Music reviews of Debussy/Ravel: Chamber Music

Music Review: Some of My Favorite Chamber Music of All Time
Rating: 5 Stars

There is perfect truth in the cliché, that chamber music reveals a more intimate side of the composer, than the grand gestures typical of the full orchestra.

Three of the last pieces Debussy wrote are here, the three sonatas (violin & piano; flute, viola & harp; and cello & piano). While taking my Master's, I was instructed to study the fl/va/hp sonata, and that was one of the happiest assignments of my school years. So if you are thinking of this disc, consider the source, and the fact that I would reckon this two-disc set worth $12 only for this marvelous sonata.

But even the listener who may not, perhaps, quite share my enthusiasm for this one piece, will find the other Debussy sonatas, and the Ravel piano trio and sonata for violin & cello, more than ample as accompaniment.

I think I should like the music for the "Chansons de Bilitis" well enough, though I can do without the narration.

Ravel's "Chansons madécasses" are by turns gracious and striking; at times, not at all the sort of music you expect of Ravel, but every bit as well made as you expect of Ravel.

The great esteem and musical affection in which Ravel held Debussy, is touchingly indicated by the fact that Ravel dedicated his vn/vc sonata "to the memory of Debussy."