Reliable voices at last
Well over a hundred years after the first edition, Ravel's "Introduction et Allegro" has been reissued. An edition that lists all the different versions.
If we previously wanted to Introduction et Allegro Ravel, the first edition published in 1906 was the only source available to us musicians. However, this had a number of obvious shortcomings and errors. For example, many dynamic indications were missing in the harp part, as well as phrasing and slurs in the wind and string parts. Only a comparative look at the score could help, although this was not complete either.
Under the direction of Peter Jost, a very careful edition has now been realized, which has consulted and compared all available sources. It has become clear that the autograph differs greatly from the first edition, particularly in the harp part, which Ravel probably reworked considerably with the help of harpist Alphonse Hasselmans.
The history of the work's composition is recounted in the preface, with all the differing versions of the various sources listed at the end. In addition, harpist Sarah O'Brien has critically reviewed the first edition, corrected pedal errors and added missing additions. Although the bar divisions and the format of the parts are comparable to those of the first edition, the notes are easier to read in the new print as they are set in larger type. Above all, a very fine edition has now been published that you can really rely on.
Maurice Ravel: Introduction et Allegro, for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet, edited by Peter Jost, parts HN 1069, € 16.00; study score HN 7069, € 11.50; G. Henle, Munich 2017
