BACKGROUND TO…

Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2

Composed over four years (1923-27), this relatively short work finds Ravel intent on pushing both players and listeners to the limit. Dedicated to violinist Hélène Jourdan-morhange, whom he accompanied, the work sees violin and piano almost at odds with each other. Ravel continued to be inspired by jazz and was determined to make a case for it as a serious evolutionary step in music with pieces such as this, but took so long to finish the Sonata that Jourdan-morhange retired before she could play it. The 1927 premiere was performed by George Enescu, alongside Ravel himself.