Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte for Violin & Piano by Maurice Ravel Chamber Music - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1621201

Maurice Ravel's Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess) is a celebrated work composed in 1899 for solo piano and later orchestrated by Ravel in 1910. The piece is written in G major and features a single movement marked Lent (slow), consisting of 72 bars.

Background and Inspiration
The title, which translates to Pavane for a Dead Princess, was chosen primarily for its pleasing sound rather than its literal meaning. Ravel clarified that the work is not a lament for a deceased child but an evocation of a pavane—a slow, stately dance popular in 16th-century Spanish courts—that might have been danced by a princess in a Velázquez painting. Ravel described the piece as nostalgic rather than dramatic, expressing his enthusiasm for Spanish customs and aesthetics.

Dedication and Reception
The work was dedicated to Ravel's patron, Princesse Edmond de Polignac (Winnaretta Singer), an influential arts supporter. Pianist Ricardo Viñes gave its first performance on April 5, 1902, and it quickly gained popularity despite Ravel's later criticisms of its form and influences. The orchestral version premiered in Manchester, England, conducted by Sir Henry Wood on February 27, 1911.

Musical Characteristics
The orchestration includes two flutes, oboe, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns (originally hand-horns in G), harp, and strings. Its delicate scoring highlights the melody often carried by the horn. Ravel intended to play the piece slowly, emphasizing its reflective and graceful qualities.

Legacy
Despite Ravel's critical view of the composition as "poor in form," Pavane pour une infante défunte remains one of his most beloved works. It has been widely performed and recorded in its original piano form and orchestral arrangement.

Maurice Ravel was inspired to write Pavane pour une infante défunte as an imaginative evocation of a pavane, a slow Renaissance dance that a young princess might have performed at the Spanish court. The title was not meant to reference any specific historical figure or event but instead reflected Ravel's fascination with Spanish customs and aesthetics, which were popular among his contemporaries. He also admitted that the title was chosen simply for its pleasing sound rather than deep meaning. Ravel composed the piece in 1899 while studying at the Paris Conservatory and dedicated it to his patron, Princesse Edmond de Polignac (Winnaretta Singer). The work reflects his broader interest in Spanish themes, as seen in other compositions like Rapsodie Espagnole. However, Ravel later distanced himself from the piece, critiquing its form and noting the influence of composer Emmanuel Chabrier.