Maurice Ravel - Danse Guerriere
Second of three piano extracts which Maurice Ravel transcribed from his 1913 masterpiece, the ballet Daphnis et Chloe. Nocturne - Interlude - Danse Guerriere.
Check out the artist page.
Stream all 132 songs for free.
Story behind the song
Daphnis and Chloe is based on the Greek novel by Longus, one of the first novels ever written, in the second century AD. The novel represents the blueprint of the stalwart of Occidental culture, the modern Hollywood-formula fairy-tale romance, and more accurately the Bollywood romance, it is as unrestrained and as innocent. Daphnis is a shepherd, Chloe a goatherdess, both are foundlings who grow up on neighbouring farms and fall in love as soon as they are able.
In this extract, Nocturne - Interlude - Danse Guerriere, abounding with bewitching pastoral flute-like melodies, Chloe has been abducted from her farm by Methymnean pirates, and Daphnis, having just discovered her discarded sandal in a sacred grotto, has passed out in despair at the foot of three statues of nymphs whom Chloe regularly makes offerings to. Here the extract begins with the Nocturne.
Nocturne
-------------
An ethereal light envelops the scene. A flame appears over the head of one of the statues, which comes to life and steps down from her pedestal. The second and third statues similarly follow in turn. They consult with each other and begin a mysterious slow dance. Finally they notice Daphnis, and dry his tears. They revive him and lead him to a rock where they invoke the god Pan. The form of the god takes shape, and Daphnis prostrates himself before Him. The lights go down.
Interlude
-------------
Behind the scene are heard voices from far off. Then there are trumpet calls. The voices approach. Light descends on a new scene: a pirate camp. A hilly coastline, the sea at the bottom. To the right and left, rocks in perspective. A trireme is seen near to the coast. In the corners are cypresses. Pirates are running here and there, carrying booty. Torches are brought, which finally illuminate the scene fully.
Danse Guerriere
-----------------------
The pirate captain Bryaxis commands that Chloe be brought before him. Chloe, her hands tied, is led in by two pirates. Bryaxis orders her to dance. Chloe performs a dance of supplication, and as she does so she tries to dance away from the pirates, but is brought back violently. Despairing, she resumes her dance. Again she tries to escape but is hemmed in by pirates. She abandons herself to despair, thinking of Daphnis. Finally Bryaxis makes to carry Chloe off. Although she pleads with him, the pirate captain carries her off anyway in triumph...
Comments
The artist currently doesn't allow comments.
