Joseph Maurice Ravel ： Nocturnes Nuages

This work by Ravel evokes a dreamlike scene of clouds through harmonies whose tonal profile is deliberately left indistinct and through gently shifting harmonic movement. In the two-piano version, a quiet tread in the low register, overlapping chords, and fragmentary melodic lines create a distinctive sense of transparency and distance. The music unfolds through broad waves of changing density and expression, with the deepening layers of sound and the return to stillness offering particular points of interest. In performance, it is important to keep the pedal clear, carefully separate the resonance of each voice, and allow the melody to emerge distinctly yet with restraint. Avoid rushing, and use long-breathed phrases and delicate dynamic shading to express the shifting presence of clouds.