Arrangements of Ravel's orchestra version of Le Tombeau de Couperin
Available from Schott Music

Maurice Ravel's 1917 solo piano composition Le Tombeau de Couperin is a tightly-woven tapestry, threading together contemporary harmonies and baroque forms. Written as epigrams for fallen friends, the pieces in the suite achingly look to the past while brimming with modernity. Later, Ravel arranged four movements of the suite for orchestra, teasing out accompaniment, and color from the original piano version. In this new arrangement for violin, cello & piano, I have assembled those elements yet again. Like hearing a poem in translation, the voice is new but the meaning and structure remain the same. And so in experiencing the arrangement, we have a chance to get to know the piece even better.

"This 2006 arrangement by Matt van Brink maintains the essential magic of the original composition, magnifying the intensity of the writing with the trio instrumentation."

Jennifer Gall, The Canberra Times

"This is a transcription that deserves wider recognition."

Steve Moffatt, Wentworth Courier







ERRATA in some printed copies

Version for VIOLIN & PIANO

Movement III. Menuet
Piano Score - m122: no harmonics
Violin Part - m8: add backwards repeat at end of measure

Movement IV. Rigadoun
Piano Score - m1, beat 2, RH: top note G, not A
Piano Score - m9, beat 1, RH: Bb
Piano Score - m10, beat 1, RH: Ab
Piano Score - m14, beat 1, RH: Ab
Piano Score - m17, beat 1, RH: Db, beat 2 RH D natural
Piano Score - m93, beat 2, RH: top note G, not A
Piano Score - m102, beat 1, RH: Ab
Piano Score - m106, beat 1, RH: Ab
Piano Score - m109, beat 1, RH: Db, beat 2 RH D natural

Version for PIANO TRIO

Movement I. Prelude
Cello Part - m59-62: ossia 8vb

Movement II. Forlane
Piano Score - m21 beat 1 RH: Bb (beat 1 LH B natural)
Piano Score - m24 beat 1 RH: F natural
Piano Score - m98 beat 2 RH: B#
Piano Score - m99 beat 1 RH: A#, G naural

Movement IV. Rigadoun
Piano Score - m1 beat 2 RH: top note G, not A
Piano Score - m93 beat 2 RH: top note G, not A

Movement III. Menuet
Violin Part - m122: no harmonics