Ravel published the suite of eight Valses nobles et sentimentales in 1911. That Ravel wanted to tie up with Schubert is clear. As he said himself:
"The title sufficiently indicates my intention to compose a succession of waltzes, after Schubert's example."
The next year an orchestrated version of the Valses was published, the composer indicating that he wanted to create a clearer orchestral sound than had been the case for the preceding Gaspard de la nuit. The orchestrated ballet version of the Valses Nobles et Sentimentales was named Adélaïde ou le langage des fleurs (Adelaide: The Language of Flowers) by Ravel.
The movements are as follows:
1. Modéré
2. Assez lent
3. Modéré
4. Assez animé
5. Presque lent
6. Vif
7. Moins vif
8. Epilogue: lent
Perhaps interesting to know is that though the suite is highly regarded today, it was booed at its first public performance.
Complete recording by Froschhammer, J. from a live concert in 2005.
| Valses Nobles et Sentimentales | 14:07 | Froschhammer, J. |
Complete recording by Therese Dussaut.
| 1-2 | Modéré, Assez lent | 3:07 | Dussaut, T. |
| 3-5 | Modéré, Assez animé, Presque lent | 3:26 | Dussaut, T. |
| 6-8 | Vif, Moins vif, Epilogue: lent | 6:36 | Dussaut, T. |
