Born: 7 March 1875, Ciboure, France
Died: 28 December 1937, Paris, France

Ravel, Maurice

When he was 14, Ravel was accepted to the Conservatoire of Paris, where he was later taught composition by Fauré. He began writing piano works, and soon enough gained a reputation as a successful innovator, a rebel against musical conventions. He became famous as an excellent orchestrator, and his orchestration of Mussorgski's "Pictures at an Exhibition" made this piece very popular in symphonic concert halls. His piano work "The Night's Gaspar" ("Gaspard de la nuit"), written under Liszt's musical inspiration, and the ballet music "Daphnis and Chloe" ("Daphnis et Chloé"), he wrote in response to a commission from the Russian impressario Dyagilev and was based on an ancient Greek myth, were a great success in Paris and recognized as masterpieces.

After World War I, in which he served as an ambulance driver, he believed France's golden age should be restored, and wrote the "Pavane to a Deceased Princess" ("Pavane pour une infante défunte"), and "The tomb of Couperin" ("Le tombeau de Couperin"), two works that revive Baroque dance forms. Ravel also wrote the Concerto for the Left Hand, for the pianist Paul Wittgenstein who lost his right arm in the war, and wanted to continue playing in concert halls.

Ravel's deteriorating health did not prevent him from traveling around the world and gain a great deal of appreciation, and in 1928, came his famous, scandalous Ballet work: "Bolero" ("Boléro"). In this piece, described by Ravel himself as "crescendo for orchestra", the theme is repeated over and over, as more instruments keep joining, and volume increases until the shivering final chord. This fascinating piece is viewed as one of the most interesting works of the 20th century.

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