Tzigane (Ravel)

Tzigane is the title of a musical composition by the French composer Maurice Ravel (1875–1937). It was originally written for violin with piano accompaniment in 1924, and dedicated to the Hungarian violinist Jelly d'Aranyi.

The name was derived from the generic European term for 'gypsy', or Roma, reflecting the powerful gypsy tunes which are found in this lively work.

Nowadays Tzigane is more frequently performed as an arrangement (by Ravel himself) for solo violin and orchestra. Though the composer is almost universally regarded as following a mainly Impressionist idiom, 'Tzigane' clearly demonstrates Ravel's ability to imitate the (late) Romantic style of violin showmanship promoted by such composer-virtuosi as Paganini and Pablo de Sarasate. In fact, the musical format and structure of 'Tzigane' bears a striking similarity to Sarasate's 'Zigeunerweisen'.