One of the most beloved French composers was Maurice Ravel, born Ciboure, France on March 7, 1875.
From Ravel-Wikipedia: “Joseph Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with impressionism along with his elder contemporary Claude Debussy, although both composers rejected the term. In the 1920s and 1930s Ravel was internationally regarded as France’s greatest living composer.”
Ravel studied under the tutelage of French composer, Gabriel Faure. Some of Ravel’s most famous works were written in his later years. From the Ravel -Bio Website: “[Some of Ravel’s later works include] Le Tombeau de Couperin, a suite composed circa 1917 for the solo piano, and the orchestral pieces Rapsodie espagnole and Boléro. Possibly the most famous of his works, Ravel was commissioned by Sergey Diaghilev to create the ballet Daphnis et Chloé, which he completed in 1912. Eight years later, in 1920, he completed La Valse, a piece with varying credits as a ballet and concert work.”
“Ravel died in Paris, France, on December 28, 1937. Today, he remains widely regarded as France’s most popular composer. He is remembered for once stating, “The only love affair I have ever had was with music.“
Please turn up the volume and enjoy some wonderful music from the popular French composer, Maurice Ravel, on this his 147th birthday.
M. Ravel: “Bolero“:
M. Ravel: String Quartet in F Major:
M. Ravel: “Rhapsodie Espagnole”:
M. Ravel: “La Valse”:
Happy Birthday #148 Maurice Ravel!
Classical Music With Big Mike 