SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/27/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 60, 92.

60: “Legato fingering is very useful in shaping the melodic phrases of Ravel's music. All the measures in Example 44 use divisi fingering in order that the performer may attain a better legato connection between notes.”

“Presumably this is was Ravel’s intended distribution, but it took me a while to figure that out as an undergraduate collaborative pianist. Hopefully seeing this will save someone some headaches!”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 4/13/2020

“At the rapid tempo of this song, I can do without this particular hand crossing. This fingering also reduces position shifts in the right hand and uncrosses the distribution of the inner notes .”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 4/13/2020

“I prefer these E-flats in the right hand so that I can prepare better for the position of the following measure.”

Submitted by Michael Clark

Published on 4/13/2020

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/4/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 26, 29, 93.

26–27: “Constant thirty-second note figurations provide an undercurrent of sound throughout ‘Ondine.’ Measures like those in Example 6 can be played smoothly and with less effort when the notes are taken by the hand closest to them… The above measures, as well as those in Example 7, illustrate a consistency in the note patterns and their fingerings.”

29: “A recurring harmonic figuration in "Ondine" which encompasses two or three octaves presents an extreme problem for the right hand [mm. 15–16]. The difficulty is the rapid shift of the thumb required at the bottom of the pattern which propels the hand back up to the top. These shifts can nearly always be avoided by playing the lowest note of the pattern with the left hand.”

93, fn10: "The pianist must be careful that this divisi fingering does not interrupt the flow of the melody on the lower staff [mm.13–14]."

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 27, 94.

26–27: “Constant thirty-second note figurations provide an undercurrent of sound throughout ‘Ondine.’ Measures like those in Example 6 can be played smoothly and with less effort when the notes are taken by the hand closest to them… The above measures, as well as those in Example 7, illustrate a consistency in the note patterns and their fingerings.”

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 94.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 54, 94.

54: “The rolled chords in Example 38 must all be played quickly so they do not disturb either the rhythmic pulse or the phrasing. In each case, divisi fingering eliminates the wide stretch required of one hand. Example 38 illustrates how the notes in each rolled chord may be shared by both hands. The notes of the rolled chords in "Ondine" are especially easy to blend at a soft dynamic level….”

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 94.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 95.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 95.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 36, 95.

35: “Example 17 contains measures from several of Ravel's piano pieces in which an extended pattern is written for one hand or the other. In passages such as these, divisi fingering can alleviate any muscular tension which might occur from the constant use of one hand.”

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 95.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 96.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 34, 96.

34: “Divisi fingering can diminish interference between the hands in many measures that have a complex harmonic texture or figuration. Example 16 shows measures…which have in common the necessity for a blend of notes at great speed and at very soft dynamic levels.”

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 96.

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 30, 55, 96.

29: “A recurring harmonic figuration in "Ondine" which encompasses two or three octaves presents an extreme problem for the right hand (Example 10). The difficulty is the rapid shift of the thumb required at the bottom of the pattern which propels the hand back up to the top. These shifts can nearly always be avoided by playing the lowest note of the pattern with the left hand.”

54: “The rolled chords in Example 38 must all be played quickly so they do not disturb either the rhythmic pulse or the phrasing. In each case, divisi fingering eliminates the wide stretch required of one hand. Example 38 illustrates how the notes in each rolled chord may be shared by both hands. The notes of the rolled chords in "Ondine" are especially easy to blend at a soft dynamic level….”

SPECIAL COLLECTION | Dorothy Brandwein’s Ravel Fingerings

Published on 4/28/2022 with the author’s permission

First appeared in Dorothy Woster Brandwein, "Divisi Fingering in Selected Passages from Ravel's Solo Piano Works" (DMA diss., University of Missouri–Kansas City, 1981), 56, 96.

56: “Ravel frequently wrote glissandi to be played on the white or black keys of the piano. Although the glissando in "Ondine" (Example 40) is written entirely on the lower staff, the right hand can continue the upward sweep, as shown, with no audible interruption.”