Ravel

Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a French composer regarded as one of the leading figures of 20th-century classical music. Born in Ciboure near the Basque coast, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and developed a distinctive, highly polished style characterized by precise orchestration and coloristic harmony. Although often associated with Impressionism, he rejected the label and pursued clarity, balance and structural control in his music.

Ravel wrote for piano, orchestra and voice and drew on French sensibility as well as Spanish and other influences. Early works include Pavane pour une infante défunte (1899) and Jeux d'eau (1901). His mature scores include the piano pieces Gaspard de la nuit (1908) and Miroirs (1905), the orchestral Rapsodie espagnole (1907), and the ballet music Daphnis et Chloé (1912). The suite Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose, 1908 for piano four hands; orchestration 1911) is another landmark, as is Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917) for piano. Boléro (1928) remains one of his best-known works, built on a single melodic and rhythmic idea gradually intensified by orchestration. L'heure espagnole (1911) is a one-act opera, and La Valse (The Waltz) from 1919–20 reflects his interest in dance forms and modern rhythms.

Ravel's refined craft and emphasis on timbre influenced many composers, and his music continues to be widely performed and recorded. He died in Paris after a long illness.