About this edition
Ravel's Rapsodie espagnole (1907–08) stands as the composer's first major orchestral statement and a landmark of early twentieth-century orchestration. Cast in four movements — Prélude à la nuit, Malagueña, Habanera, and Feria — the work fuses a refined Iberian sensuality with the kaleidoscopic instrumental color that would define Ravel's mature style, its hushed four-note ostinato opening unfolding into one of the most atmospheric soundscapes in the repertoire. The Habanera, originally composed in 1895 for two pianos, makes this score a fascinating document of Ravel's stylistic evolution across more than a decade.
This volume reproduces the first edition published by Durand & Fils, Paris, in 1908 (plate number D. & F. 7128), issued by the house that would remain Ravel's primary publisher throughout his career. Durand's first printings of Ravel's orchestral works were prepared in close consultation with the composer and have long been regarded as the authoritative textual sources for performance and study. The premiere took place at the Concerts Colonne on 15 March 1908 under Édouard Colonne, and this Durand score documents the work essentially as Ravel presented it to the public in that historic season.
About this edition:
- Format: Full orchestral score (conductor's score)
- Page size: 8.5 x 11 inches
- Source: Durand & Fils, Paris, 1908 — first edition, plate D. & F. 7128
- Reproduced from a public domain historical score
- Publisher: Purple 4R Publishing
This edition is a faithful reproduction of a historical score that has entered the public domain, allowing us to make a foundational work of the orchestral repertoire available in an affordable, well-presented format for conductors, players, students, and scholars. We hope it serves you well in study, rehearsal, and performance.
