Ravina, Jean-Henri 1818 - 1906
Author: Ueda, Yasushi
Last updated：May 13, 2011
Author: Ueda, Yasushi
The Ravina family is said to have originated in the former province of Béarn, bordering Spain and France. This is likely why the surname Ravina sounds Spanish for a French name. Jean-Henri Ravina was born on May 20, 1818, in Bordeaux, Southern France. His mother was one of the most renowned piano teachers in the region, and young Henri began his piano training under her, Eugénie (née Lasalle, c.1794–1877). His development as a performer was remarkable; in 1826, at the tender age of eight, he performedKalkbrenner's concerto, astonishing the renowned violinist from his hometown, Pierre Rode (1774–1830).
Author : Ueda, Yasushi
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Author : Ueda, Yasushi
Ravina was born in Bordeaux, Southern France. He displayed prodigious talent from an early age, performing Kalkbrenner's Piano Concerto at eight under the tutelage of his mother, one of the foremost piano teachers in the region. In 1831, he went to Paris and entered Zimmermann's class. Three years later, he completed his piano studies with a first prize, and in 1835, he also received a first prize in harmony and accompaniment (score-reading). Although he briefly held a teaching position at his alma mater, he chose the path of a virtuoso pianist. In 1838, he published the ambitious and transcendent 12 Études de Concert, Op. 1 (dedicated to his teacher Zimmermann), which even surpassed Liszt's works, thus commencing his career as a composer. In the late 1840s, his compositional style rapidly matured, marked by successful works such as Nocturne, Op. 13 (c. 1845), and 12 Études de Style et de Perfectionnement, Op. 14 (1846). From this point, he began to write elegant salon music and études that emphasized meticulous composition over technical exaggeration. Masterpieces such as La Prière, Op. 51, dedicated to his elder friend Rossini; La Nuit Étoilée, Op. 76, depicting a beautiful starry night; and the introspective 3 Romances sans paroles, Op. 95, which express various emotional states, possess charming melodies that are simple yet far from ordinary, along with dramatic developments. In his later years, he undertook the editing of works by Weber and Chopin, and also arranged all of Beethoven symphonies for piano four-hands. He passed away in 1906, concluding a long life of 88 years. The majority of Ravina's music is filled with dazzling light and the vitality of life. While the 19th century has been characterized by the image of "Romanticism," often associated with profound and weighty inner expression, it is difficult to grasp Ravina's value through such conventional music historical perspectives.
Author : Kanazawa, Osamu
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Author : Kanazawa, Osamu
Born in Bordeaux, Southern France, Henri Ravina, who studied with Zimmermann at the Paris Conservatoire, was known as a leading pianist and teacher in 19th-century Parisian salons. He was a lifelong friend of Charles-Valentin Alkan since childhood, and his bright, affirmative style, utilizing highly functional pianism, is unparalleled. He composed approximately 120 piano pieces.
Works(123)
Piano Solo
rondo (5)
scherzo (2)
etude (12)
fantasy (9)
waltz (5)
nocturne (6)
caprice (4)
divertimento (5)
character pieces (36)
transcription (2)
Various works (5)
Piano Ensemble
character pieces (3)