DESCRIPTION:
Maurice Ravel - Sonatine (1903-1905), Mvt 1, Modéré.

Performed by Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

This movement, originally composed for a small competition sponsored by the Weekly Critical Review (in which he was the only entrant, but still did not win, since his entry was a few bars too long), is a brief but flowing sonata form, true to the title. It is an homage to the structure and elegance of the late 18th century forms. The falling fourth that opens this piece sets the stage for the following movements, which all utilize and transform the motive (and it's inversion, a rising fifth) in various ways.