Irony and Sound: The Music of Maurice Ravel (Eastman studies in music, [66

What is it about Bolero, Gaspard de la nuit, and Daphnis et Chloe that makes musicians and listeners alike love them so? Stephen Zank here illuminates these and other works of Maurice Ravel through several of the composer's fascinations: dynamic intensification, counterpoint, orchestration, exotic influences on Western music, and an interest in multisensorial perception. Connecting all these fascinations, Zank argues, is irony. His book offers an appreciation of Ravel's musical irony that is grounded in the vocabularies and criticism of the time and in two early attempts at writing up a "Ravel Aesthetic" by intimates of Ravel. Thomas Mann called irony the phenomenon that is, "beyond compare, the most profound and most alluring in the world." Irony and Sound, written with insight and flair, provides a long-needed reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture. Musicologist Stephen Zank has taught at University of Illinois, University of North Texas, and University of Rochester. He is the author of Maurice Ravel: A Guide to Research. An insightful and exquisitely written reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture.What is it about Boléro, Gaspard de la nuit, and Daphnis et Chloé that makes musicians and listeners alike love them so? Stephen Zank here illuminates these and other works of Maurice Ravel through several of the composer's fascinations: dynamic intensification, counterpoint, orchestration, exotic influences on Western music, and an interest in multisensorial perception. Connecting all these fascinations, Zank argues, is irony. His book offers an appreciation of Ravel's musical irony that is grounded in the vocabularies and criticism of the time and in two early attempts at writing up a'Ravel Aesthetic'by intimates of Ravel. Thomas Mann calledirony the phenomenon that is,'beyond compare, the most profound and most alluring in the world.'Irony and Sound, written with insight and flair, provides a long-needed reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture. Musicologist Stephen Zank has taught at University of Illinois, University of North Texas, and University of Rochester. He is the author of Maurice Ravel: A Guideto Research. An insightful and exquisitely written reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture. What is it about Bolro, Gaspard de la nuit, and Daphnis et Chlo that makes musicians and listeners alike love them so? Stephen Zank here illuminates these and other works of Maurice Ravel through several of the composer's dynamic intensification, counterpoint, orchestration, exotic influences on Western music, and an interest in multisensorial perception. Connecting all these fascinations, Zank argues, is irony. His book offers an appreciation of Ravel's musical irony that is grounded in the vocabularies and criticism of the time and in two early attempts at writing up a "Ravel Aesthetic" by intimates of Ravel. Thomas Mann calledirony the phenomenon that is, "beyond compare, the most profound and most alluring in the world." Irony and Sound, written with insight and flair, provides a long-needed reconsideration of Ravel's modernity, his teaching, and his place in twentieth-century music and culture. Musicologist Stephen Zank has taught at University of Illinois, University of North Texas, and University of Rochester. He is the author of Maurice A Guideto Research. What Is It About Bolero, Gaspard De La Nuit, And Daphnis Et Chloe That Makes Musicians And Listeners Alike Love Them So? Stephen Zank Here Illuminates These And Other Works Of Maurice Ravel Through Several Of The Composer's Fascinations: Dynamic Intensification, Counterpoint, Orchestration, Exotic Influences On Western Music, And An Interest In Multisensorial Perception. Connecting All These Fascinations, Zank Argues, Is Irony. His Book Offers An Appreciation Of Ravel's Musical Irony That Is Grounded In The Vocabularies And Criticism Of The Time And In Two Early Attempts At Writing Up A Ravel Aesthetic By Intimates Of Ravel. Irony And Sound, Written With Insight And Flair, Provides A Long-needed Reconsideration Of Ravel's Modernity, His Teaching, And His Place In Twentieth-century Music And Culture.--jacket. Gentle Irony -- Simple Sound : Ravel And Crescendo -- Opposed Sound : Ravel And Counterpoint -- Displaced Sound : Ravel And Registration -- Plundered Sound : Ravel And The Exotic -- Sound And Sense : Ravel And Synaesthesia -- Secrets Of Modernity : Irony And Style. Stephen Zank. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [391]-418) And Index. Introduction "Gentle Irony" Simple Sound: Ravel and "Crescendo" Opposed Sound: Ravel and Counterpoint Displaced Sound: Ravel and Registration Plundered Sound: Ravel and the Exotic Sound and Sense: Ravel and Synaesthesia "Secrets of Modernity": Irony and Style Appendix: Ravel's 1902 Prix de Rome Fugue Notes Bibliography Index