Brahms&Ravel

Ravel  La valse

It was 1914, when Ravel started a plan of composing one symphonic poem named "Vienna". After World War I, it has changed by name "La Valse--choreographic poem  for Orchestra". This piece premiered on December 12th, 1920.  Ravel described "La Valse" with following preface to the score: Through whirling clouds, waltzing couples may be faintly distinguished. The clouds gradually scatter: one sees at letter A an immense hall peopled with a whirling crowd. The scene is gradually illuminated. The light of the chandeliers bursts forth at the fortissimo letter B. Set in an imperial court, about 1855.

The Hungarian Dances (German: Ungarische Tänze) by Johannes Brahms, are a set of 21 lively dance tunes based mostly on Hungarian themes, completed in 1869. They vary from about a minute to five minutes in length. They are among Brahms's most popular works, and were certainly the most profitable for him. Brahms originally wrote the version for piano four hands and later arranged the first 10 dances for solo piano.