Maurice Ravel’s “La valse” exists in three versions – including this one for two pianos – all written between December 1919 and March 1920.
The preface to the score includes the following descriptive note: “Whirling clouds give glimpses, through rifts, of couples dancing. The clouds scatter, little by little. One sees an immense hall filled with a twirling crowd. The scene is gradually illuminated. The light of the chandeliers bursts forth, fortissimo. An imperial court, in or about 1855.”
The work begins with vague murmurings in the bass register, from which a waltz rhythm is established. This evolves into a great Viennese waltz, in the best tradition of Johann Strauss. After a while, however, the music grows more and more feverish; some of the earlier merriment returns as we reach the climax of the waltz, bringing the work to its explosive conclusion.
Here are two pianistic giants to play this for you:
