Concerto pour Piano et Orchestre (Ravel)

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Concerto pour Piano et Orchestre (also known as "Concerto in G") is a piano concerto by Maurice Ravel composed in the period of 1929–1931. The piece comprises three movements:

Allegramente
Adagio assai
Presto

After his well-received piano tour of America, Ravel wanted to debut this new work himself. However, health issues precluded this possibility with his preparatory practice of Liszt and Chopin etudes leading to fatigue. Instead, Marguerite Long — who was known for her performances of Fauré and Debussy, and had asked Ravel for a new work — debuted the concerto. Ravel dedicated the concerto's score to her. The world premiere was on January 14, 1932 with Ravel conducting the Lamoureux Orchestra. The first North American performances were given simultaneously on the evening of April 22, 1932, by both the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra at their home concert halls.

The piece begins immediately with the crack of a whip. In performances of the Ravel Piano Concerto in G in which a second piano substitutes for the orchestra, it has become customary to snap the lip of the piano keyboard lid, creating a sound similar to that of the whip. The piano soloist begins straightaway with florid arpeggiated fingerwork in the high range of the piano, which leads into accented jazz-inspired melodies, in part recalling the composer's American travels.

The first and last movements (Allegramente and Presto) are heavily imbued with exciting jazz melodies, although they retain classical elements. The first movement is a flowing, lively piece with harmonies that resemble those of Aaron Copland. The beautiful, contemplative second movement in E-major (Adagio assai) showcases the Impressionist Ravel in his element. The cadences are some of the most gorgeous in the repertoire. The final statement of the melody of the second movement features an extended solo for cor anglais during which the piano soloist, playing flowing lines of thirty-second notes, takes a secondary role. The third movement is a virtuosic, incredibly fast piece which uses many bouncing, light melodies combined with forceful ones to make the third movement an amazing experience to play (albeit difficult). The overall effect of the concerto is that of an astounding impressionistic work, and definitely Ravel at his best.