Synopsis

On today's date in 1911, the Independent Music Society of Paris sponsored “An Anonymous Concert” at which the audience was invited to guess the composers of a number of pieces presented without attribution.

Professional music critics were also in attendance, although they prudently refused to reveal their guesses, fearing their professional reputations might suffer as a result. In the audience was the French composer Maurice Ravel, who had agreed to let some of his new piano pieces be performed as part of the experiment.

“The title Valses nobles et sentimentales is a sufficient indication that my intention was to compose a chain of waltzes following the example of Schubert,” Ravel wrote. “They were performed for the first time, amidst protests and booing, at this concert.” Even more droll, recalled Ravel, were the reactions of some his most ardent admirers, who didn't know any of his own music would be played. They jeered at his waltzes, calling them “ridiculous” and ventured the guess the composer must be either Satie or Kodaly. Ravel accepted their comments in stoic silence.

The audience proved more astute than Ravel's friends, however. “The paternity of the Waltzes was correctly attributed to me,” recalled Ravel, “but by a weak majority.”

Music Played in Today's Program

Maurice Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales Minnesota Orchestra; Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, conductor. Analogue 007