Gaspard de la Nuit at Desert View Performing Arts Center

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Pianist, Stephen Cook playing at the Triangle Y Camp on donated Baldwin piano.

On Sunday, March 1, at 3 p.m., join The Oracle Piano Society for Picturing Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit, A Musical Soliloquy at SaddleBrooke II, 39900 S. Clubhouse Dr. in Tucson.

Gaspard de la Nuit, the book originally penned by Aloysius Bertrand – or, according to Bertrand’s introduction, coming from the devil – is a collection of gothic poetry and over 70 tableaux depicting angels, fairies, ghouls and goblins in a medieval setting. It is world famous and has inspired artwork of varying sorts, including Ravel’s compositions of the same title which contains three scenes of fantasy and the macabre selected from the book.

Have you read the poems? Here is a small sampling from Ondine. “ Each wave is a water sprite who swims in the stream, each stream is a footpath that winds towards my palace, and my palace is a fluid structure, at the bottom of the lake, in a triangle of fire, of earth and of air.”

Of Gaspard de la Nuit, Maurice Ravel said: “Gaspard has been a devil in coming, but that is only logical since it was he who is the author of the poems. My ambition is to say with notes what a poet expresses with words.” As Ravel also intended, the Scarbo movement has made the piece famous for its technical difficulty and profound construction, and, certainly, more difficult than anything composed by Balakirev.

The word Gaspard is taken from the Persian and means “the man who guards the royal treasures”. The name Gaspard de Nuit, as a whole, alludes to that which is dark, mysterious, and, precious; many translate the title as “Sorcerer of the Night”. Any way you translate it, it is a fitting name for a piece that is so difficult that it has driven some pianists mad with frustration. It is called the most difficult piano work ever written, requiring “wrists of steel, fingers with eyes in them.” It is a work of transcendent virtuosity and stunning imagination, and, it is the focal point of this March 1 concert featuring The Oracle Piano Society’s own founder and Artistic Director, Dr. Stephen Cook.

Keeping in line with the Oracle Piano’s Society’s mission to promote artistic fusion, Cook will punctuate his piano performances with silent film footage and recitations of Bertrand’s poetry. Also on program: Ravel’s Sonatine accompanied by Cook’s own selections from Bertrand’s writings.

Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.saddlebrooketwo.com. Call 520-825-2818 for more information. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Students may attend free with an ID. To learn more about the Oracle Piano Society, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/oraclepianosociety.

Staff (5795 Posts)

There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.


Facebooktwitterby feather
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmailby feather

Comments are closed.

  • Additional Stories

    Shop Local – It’s a Small Business Season

    November 22nd, 2023
    by

      As the holidays approach, we will be checking our lists and, much like Santa, checking them twice.  We can […]


    Pinal Airpark may soon have a control tower

    July 28th, 2023
    by

      Pinal Airpark may soon have a much-needed air traffic control tower thanks to a successful amendment added by U.S. […]


    Free virtual diabetes prevention program

    October 15th, 2022
    by

      One in three adults are estimated to have prediabetes, and most do not know it. In Arizona, this means […]


    Copper Corridor has new business incubator in the Superior Enterprise Center

    April 14th, 2022
    by

      Interested in starting a new business in Superior? Maybe you’ve thought about changing your career and need some training […]


  • Additional Stories

    Visitors to the Arizona National Scenic Trail near Kearny recommended to take extra precautions around wild animals after potential rabies incident

    April 14th, 2022
    by

      Hikers and campers on the Arizona National Scenic Trail near Kearny in the East of Pinal County will see […]


    Second Annual Gila River Music Festival returns to Kearny April 22-23

    April 14th, 2022
    by

     The Gila River Music Festival features a diverse lineup of musical talent, food trucks, vendors and artists. Bring a chair […]


    Pinal County redistricting will break up Copper Corridor

    February 16th, 2022
    by

      Every 10 years, Pinal County is required to conduct a redistricting process that ensures each County Supervisor district has […]


    Public comments sought on changes to Air Force training areas

    February 16th, 2022
    by

      The Copper Corridor region is used to playing a large role in the practice and training of both US […]


  • Copperarea

  • Southeast Valley Ledger