REPRINT SERIES

 Ravel’s setting of Clément Marot’s poem “D’Anne jouant de l’espinette” dates from 1896 as the second of his Deux épigrammes de Clément Marot (M.10), originally for voice and piano; Maurice Delage’s orchestration followed soon after, translating the piano part into a delicate chamber‑orchestral score that highlights the song’s crystalline lines and rhythmic precision. Delage’s version uses a light ensemble—winds and strings with occasional harp textures—to mirror the spinet’s role in the text, allowing the soprano’s melody to float above transparent orchestral washes. The orchestration retains the original’s graceful simplicity, with instrumental color punctuating the vocal line rather than overwhelming it.

A typical performance lasts about 4½ minutes, during which the modal‑inflected melody and its precise, dance‑like rhythm evoke both Renaissance poise and early-20th‑century clarity. The song’s restrained harmonic language and finely tuned ensemble balance make it a concise showcase of Ravel’s melodic gift and Delage’s skillful orchestral reimagining.