Sonatine
Sonatine
Maurice Ravel
Jacques Rouvier and Wakana Taniguchi work on dynamic contrast, finding balance between melody and harmony, and many more elements in this piano masterclass.
Produced by the Saline royale Academy in February, 2021 at Arc-et-Senans.
In this masterclass, Jacques Rouvier helps student Wakana Taniguchi exaggerate the details in Ravel’s charming Sonatine. The balance between melody and harmony is very important in this piece; Rouvier points out places where one or the other must be brought out more and offers advice for fingerings and pedal use to accomplish this.
Likewise, this allows the student to find the sound that best fits the music. Additionally, he encourages strict adherence to the written dynamics. In order to create the appropriate amount of contrast, there must be several levels of dynamics between pianissimo and forte. He also demonstrates where the tempo must be firmly maintained and where there is room to take expressive time.
Jacques Rouvier
Something should smile in the sound
Jacques Rouvier
Aim for excellence! You can improve your skills with expert advice. Download the annotated sheet music of this piano masterclass. Please note that this piece has been annotated in accordance to Jacques Rouvier’s feedback and comments.
He won two Premiers Prix (first prizes): in piano performance (1965) In chamber music (1967).
Jacques Rouvier was born in Marseilles into a family of musicians. He attended the CNSMD in Paris (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse), where he was taught by Vlado Perlemuter, Pierre Sancan, and Jean Hubeau. He won first prizes in both piano and chamber music. Rouvier then decided to broaden his knowledge about wind section and leading orchestra at the CNSMD too. He owes much to Pierre Barbizet and Jean Fassina. Rouvier won several competitions such as the “Giovan Battista Viotti” International Music Competition, Maria Canal International Music Competition, the European Broadcasting Union Competition, the Long-Thibaud Competition, and the Competition of the Fondation de la Vocation. In 1970, he founded the Rouvier-Kantorow-Muller trio, with whom he still performs regularly.
Since 1979, he has taught at the CNSMD in Paris and at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Photo credit: BNF