Le Paon

Le Paon (FR) The Peacock. Ravel's setting (1906, Histoires naturelles #1) for voice and piano of a prose-poem by Renard. The proud, vain strutting of the peacock is symbolized musically in Ravel's evocation of French overture-type dotted rhythms, the opening of the peacock's tail by double glissandi in the piano part. The song is dedicated to Jane Bathori, who gave the premiere, accompanied by Ravel.