A collection of prose poems by the French Romantic Aloysius Bertrand inspired Ravel to write his piano cycle ŒñGaspard de la nuitŒî. Unlike earlier works he does not merely create an atmospheric depiction of the literary model Œ_ in a fascinating manner he recounts the eerie-grotesque scenes using musical means. His Œñthree romantic poems of transcendental virtuosityŒî were supposed to surpass the technical refinement of BalakirevŒÍs ŒñIslameyŒî (HN 793), which was considered unplayable at the time. Our edition not only offers impeccable Urtext in a clear, larger format: the corresponding poem by Bertrand prefaces each part in three languages.