Similarities of Ravel's Jeux Deau and Liszt's Jeux D'Eau a La Villa D'Este

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RQ: Symbolism of water conveyed through musical elements in Ravel’s Jeux Deau and Liszt’s Les jeux D’eau a la villa d’Este This paper discusses the composers’ depiction of water - a general image accessible to all yet captured in a unique way, with reference to the musical elements presented in the pieces, “Jeux Deau” by Maurice Ravel and “Les Jeux D’eau a la villa d’Este” by Franz Liszt. The background information of the two composers, Liszt and Ravel, as well as the context in which these two pieces are composed will be further elaborated in the following paragraphs. In view of the subject matter delineated above, and in order to limit the scope of my present study, only two pieces are examined in this paper; whereby both pieces contain the element of water in both its titles, namely “Jeux Deau” (which means water games) and one of it is composed under the influence of the other. Further analysis of the musical elements, which reflects the symbolism and imagery of water, will be further elaborated on in the paper. The significance of this paper will enhance one’s understanding of two different composer’s intentions in their interplay of water with the use of musical elements. In the following paragraphs, the similarities and differences of the musical elements used by the different composers, as well as the context in which the pieces are composed and background information of the composers will be further elaborated below. Franz Liszt is a Hungarian pianist and composer who lived from 1811-1886. He studied and played at Vienna and Paris and for most of his early adulthood, toured Europe giving concerts. He first started his music lessons in the court of Count Esterhazy when he was six years old and at the age of twelve, he left Vienna to travel and in Paris. Halfway through his midlife, between1835 to1838, he composed a set of three suites for solo piano,

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