Princeton University - May 23, 2014

While it is tempting to draw connections between the music of Bach and Ravel for the sake of a coherent program, to me the differences between these two composers are more fascinating than their similarities.

Glenn Gould asserted that Bach’s keyboard music is “instrumentally indifferent,” and this generally seems to be the case; The Art of Fugue has been performed by harpsichordists, organists, string quartets, and even pianists.

Ravel’s piano music, on the other hand, is inextricable from the instrument; he is fascinated by the shades of resonance and sound possible on the piano, and meticulously notates pedaling and dynamics.

- Sashi Ayyangar