March 7 - Maurice Ravel (The Musical Birthday Series - 2nd Annual Cycle)

Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer, pianist and conductor. 
[For last year's post celebrating John Wilbye click here.]

And Again...

Boléro by Maurice Ravel

Is surely a snare drummers hell.

The path to perdition

Is rapt repetition

Of a regular rhythmical cell.

Three Variations on a Southpaw Theme

 (1)

The Concerto for left hand alone

Has a place in the rep all its own.

And let us be candid

This concerto (left-handed)

Is not for the accident prone.

(2)

The Concerto for left hand unaided

Has difficulties blithely paraded --

No matter how deft

You may be with your left

Its hazards cannot be evaded.

(3)

The Concerto for Left Hand (no right)

Cannot be accomplished at sight.

To gain sure command

Of its sly sleight of hand

Start practicing night after night.

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