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Mallignamius
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Can scientists accurately determine Ravel's condition based on one musical composition? I hope they were relying on more than just that.
HOWEVER
In "M. Ravel discusses his own work: The Boléro explained", The Daily Telegraph, 1931-07-11, he is quoted:
From A Ravel Reader: Correspondence, Articles, Interviews; Compiled and edited by Arbie Orenstein
I like this author's take on it:
http://hercules.gcsu.edu/~hedmonds/lecture notes/CLASSICAL MUSIC.htmlMaurice Ravel was in all likelihood suffering from Alzheimer's disease at the time of his composition of Boléro, as deduced by scientists after they found evidence of 'perseverance', a characteristic feature of patients with Alzheimer's, in Boléro, which is the repetitive notes we hear.
HOWEVER
In "M. Ravel discusses his own work: The Boléro explained", The Daily Telegraph, 1931-07-11, he is quoted:
http://books.google.com/books?id=lF...sic"&as_brr=3&sig=eN3yDGokAkJr_1fU1jghaxq8tQsIt constitutes an experiment in a very special and limited direction, and should not be suspected of aiming at achieving anything different from, or anything more than, it actually does achieve. Before its first performance, I issued a warning to the effect that what I had written was a piece lasting seventeen minutes and consisting wholly of "orchestral tissue without music" -- of one very long, gradual crescendo. There are no contrasts, and practically no invention except the plan and the manner of execution.
From A Ravel Reader: Correspondence, Articles, Interviews; Compiled and edited by Arbie Orenstein
I like this author's take on it:
http://www.mangore.com/bolero_ravel.htmlRavel died of a brain tumor and some recent investigations by a British doctor indicate that he suffered from Alzheimer disease because "...the famous melody repeated 18 times without change during the course of the piece demonstrates that the French composer was possibly succumbing to Alzheimer's disease. Perseveration, an obsession with repeating words and gestures, is one of the more notable symptoms of this pathology"... Now, with all due respect, with that type of approach, we have to assert that Pachelbel's Canon is a Mental institution case, not to mention most music with variations...