Relayed from the National Museum of Wales

National Orchestra of Wales

A Pavane was originally a dance, of a slow, stately character. Its solemn nature makes it specially suitable for a memorial piece.
Ravel's Pavane is one of his best works, on a small scale. Originally written for Pianoforte, it is also scored for a small Orchestra, consisting of the usual Woodwind (there is only one Oboe, however), two Horns, one Harp, and Muted Strings. The music centres round a slow, sustained melody, the first part of which is given out by Horn, the second part as a duet-Oboe and Bassoon. It is beautifully scored throughout.

Armstrong Gibbs in 1921 was invited by Granville Barker to compose music for the production of Maeterlinck's play The Betrothal. Here is some of that distinctive and interesting music.

The Spanish Caprice is so well known that it is necessary to recall only that it consists of a number of contrasted sections, following one another without pause, thus: Alborada, Variations, Alborada (repeated), Scene and Gipsy Song, Fandango.