Maurice Ravel

Le Tombeau de Couperin

Ravel gave the oboe a soloist role in his orchestral version of 'Le Tombeau de Couperin'. This sound is characteristic of the work, even though the original version was only written for piano solo.

This initial situation inspired me as an oboist to create an arrangement that unites the essences of both versions of Ravel - the intimate character of the piano version and the timbre of the oboe in the orchestral version. A compromise was found between the two versions, not only in terms of the tonal material, but also in terms of articulation and dynamics. The recommendations of the pianist Ai Yamamura and Ravel's piano version served as the basis for the piano part. Only for the forlane did I decide to follow the guidelines of the orchestral version. The reference for the oboe part, its articulation and playing instructions is always Ravel's orchestral version.

I am delighted with the musicians who play this arrangement with the same enthusiasm with which I wrote it.

Elena González Arias
In memoriam Isabel Arias González and Conrado Blanco González