Pavane pour une infante défunte pour quintette à vents et harpe

Description

Pavane pour une infante défunte
by Maurice Ravel
for wind quintet and harp
arranged by Félix Foster

Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte (“Pavane for a Dead Princess”) is one of his most beloved early works, originally composed for solo piano in 1899 and later orchestrated by the composer in 1910. Evocative of a slow, stately Renaissance dance, the piece is not meant to mourn a specific person, but rather to capture the delicate grace and nostalgic elegance of a bygone era. Ravel himself described it as “an evocation of a pavane that a little princess might have danced at the Spanish court.”

This new arrangement by Félix Foster reimagines Ravel’s atmospheric gem for wind quintet and harp, offering a fresh and colorful texture that retains the original’s refined melancholy and gentle charm. The harp serves as a lyrical and shimmering foundation, while the woodwinds bring warmth, intimacy, and expressive nuance to the melodic lines. This version is ideal for chamber music concerts, offering performers and audiences alike a new perspective on a timeless miniature.

Félix Foster’s thoughtful adaptation pays close attention to Ravel’s distinctive harmonic language and orchestral sensibility, creating an arrangement that is both faithful to the spirit of the original and idiomatic for the ensemble.

This edition is part of our new “Historical Treasures” series—a curated collection dedicated to rediscovering and revitalizing significant works from the past. The series features compositions ranging from the obscure to the well-known, many of which are difficult to obtain in quality editions. Our mission is to make these gems more accessible by offering carefully prepared scores, free of misprints and editorial errors that often plague older publications. Where possible, we also provide editorial improvements to enhance readability and performance practicality, ensuring these works can be enjoyed by musicians and audiences alike.