Thread: The Drummer of Ravel's Bolero

I've seen that a couple of times now, it's a classic!. I love the way the two drummers keep eyeing each other off. What an effort though, keeping that same beat for such a long time with very little change. I don't know how he does it.

I saw that on SBS- at first I thought wtf but started watching and loved it.

Thanks for posting this.

It's the 1st time of seen it & have now sent it to others, off list.

Best Wishes,

For those who missed it last time; it's on again.


The Drummer of Ravel's Bolero

9pm – 9.15pm SBS
Thursday 1 January 2009


While performing the eight-minute Ravel's Bolero, the drummer of the orchestra expresses, without a word, his self-consciousness, restlessness, exasperation and a certain rivalry and resentment for the other percussionists.

I dunno. Is he actually drumming? At the beginning he doesn't appear to be in sync with the drum beats and shortly after, the hands disappear from view. We don't see him drumming of the rest of the film.

Funny, this was just on SBS a few mins ago and I googled it to learn a bit more about it and this was the first result!

Originally Posted by p38arover

I dunno. Is he actually drumming? At the beginning he doesn't appear to be in sync with the drum beats and shortly after, the hands disappear from view. We don't see him drumming of the rest of the film.

YES! The poor bugger is playing the same pattern all the way through. BTW, this film of "Bolero" is quite heavily cut - it is normally a 17 minute piece. (There are solos near the beginning for trumpet, alto and soprano saxophones left out, as well as other sections).

I played in symphony orchestras for 39 years, and would have played in this piece at least 50 times during my career. It is a favourite with audiences, but is one of the most tedious pieces in the repertoire to play, and some of the solos, in particular the trombone one, which is very well played in this film, are very difficult. In the full version, the trombone solo is about 6 minutes in, and it is not much fun to have to play an exposed solo as your first entry!

Cheers,

Lionel

Originally Posted by vnx205

For those who missed it last time; it's on again.


The Drummer of Ravel's Bolero

9pm – 9.15pm SBS
Thursday 1 January 2009


While performing the eight-minute Ravel's Bolero, the drummer of the orchestra expresses, without a word, his self-consciousness, restlessness, exasperation and a certain rivalry and resentment for the other percussionists.

I actually think he is playing to the camera.

I wouldn't think it was rivalry or resentment - the snare-drum part is the big one in this piece! Conductors have been known to place the snare-drummer at the front of the orcestra as a soloist.

This version is heavily cut- it is usually about a 17 min work.

Cheers,

Lionel