Ravel in Denver

Ravel arrived in Denver after his train journey from Portland on 18 February 1928, and on arrival he gave an interview to a local newspaper in which, not for the first time, he spoke enthusiastically about jazz and stated its importance as a distinctive form of American music. “Why be ashamed of jazz? I even like to dance to jazz music.” He was also relieved to find that a fresh supply of his favourite imported cigarettes was waiting for him. Prohibition was of less concern to him. “I can get along without prohibition because there isn’t any such thing, but if they take away my cigarets, I’ll stay in France.” (Rocky Mountain News, 19 February 1928, p.3**).

Ravel and his soprano soloist Lisa Roma gave a recital on 19 February at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. 

“An audience that completely filled the auditorium and included many of the city’s prominent professional and amateur musicians greeted M. Ravel…” The performance began with a reading (in English) of Ravel’s lecture on contemporary music, in which he again extolled the vitality and expressiveness of jazz. The musical items consisted principally of songs, punctuated by some of Ravel’s piano works. (Rocky Mountain News, 20 February 1928, p.13**).

In the piano pieces, the composer again failed to impress as a performer. “His touch produced a hard and metallic tone and his use of the pedals was so inexpert that many passages were blurred.” The songs fared better, though the novelty of Ravel’s approach to word-setting caused some perplexity. (Denver Morning Post, 20 February 1928, p.13**). None of this however diminished the sense of occasion: “Pro Musica has rendered a genuine service to the community in bringing the most distinguished composer of the modern French school to our city. It is a privilege to hear at first hand the most discussed composer of the sane modern movement.” (Rocky Mountain News, 20 February 1928, p.13**).

Omaha

Ravel left Denver on the evening following the concert on his way to Minneapolis, but he changed trains in Omaha which was famed for its jazz performances. Arriving in the afternoon (21 February), Ravel spent the evening in the city listening to jazz, and then caught his onward train at 10pm. (Orenstein [1989] letter 296).

(** as quoted in Dunfee [1980] pp.95-97, 144-145.)