Search

The Online Encyclopedia and Dictionary

 
     
 

Encyclopedia

Dictionary

Quotes

 

Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Ravel)

Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major (Concerto pour la main gauche en ré majeur) was composed by Maurice Ravel between 1929 and 1930. It was commissioned for the Austrian pianist, Paul Wittgenstein (brother of the philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein), who lost his right arm during World War I.

  • I. Lento
  • II. Allegro
  • III. Tempo I

It consists of three movements without pause, starting with a dark brooding section in the low notes. Although at first Wittgenstein did not take to its jazz-influenced rhythms and harmonies, he grew to like the piece. Ravel's other (longer) Piano Concerto in G Major is more widely known and played.

There are several other piano concertos for the left hand.

Last updated: 06-03-2005 19:34:29
The contents of this article are licensed from Wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. How to see transparent copy