Download the bolero of maurice ravel: an example of

THE BOLERO OF MAURICE
RAVEL: AN EXAMPLE OF
REPETITION IN MUSIC
THE REPETITION
Surely you
have seen
different
examples of
repetition in
nature. Can
you find any
kind of
repetition in
this figure?
As you now, repetition is used in
graphic art languages
Repetition exists also in musical
language
Listen this famous tune
http://www.luiraffimarti.it/0pag2.asp?id=34
If you observe the tune of the
beginning, you can find the repetition
of four different modules
---------1---------
R1
-------2-----
R2
-------3-------
R3
------4----
Every module is repeated for two times.
The letter «R» means «REPETITION».
R4
So we have learned
that in nature such as
in art, a module that
repeats itself builds
a structure: a
beehive, a picture, a
tune.
You can also build a music on the repetition of
rhythmic modules.
In the Bolero of Maurice Ravel this kind of
repetition is more evident than in any other
musical work.
• Bolero is a ballet music composed by Maurice
Ravel in 1825.
• It’s structure is built on an ostinato.
• Ostinato is an italian word that means testardo .
In the musical language ostinato is a phrase or a
tune or a rhythm that remains constant
throughout the piece.
The structure of Bolero is built on the
rhythmic ostinato you can see below:
This rhythmic figure is played by snare drums for
all the piece, while the other
instruments play the
main motif in turn.
Snare drums
LISTENING OF BOLERO
Listen to Bolero and be careful to the ostinato of
snare drums!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player
_detailpage&v=djClkZIRf_4