Maurice Ravel Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Prelude (I) from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel11rank/position

Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin – 1. Prélude, 6. Toccata, pf. Sayako Shinonaga: Sayako Shinonaga

Le Tombeau de Couperin, a set of six pieces imbued with remembrance for acquaintances who perished in World War I.

The first piece, Prélude, is dedicated to Lieutenant Jacques Charlot, who arranged Maurice Ravel’s four-hand suite Ma mère l’Oye for solo piano.

Its light, animated character subtly evokes the atmosphere of Baroque and Classical preludes.

As you practice, try incorporating exercises that promote finger independence so the sound remains clear and steady at the brisk tempo, avoiding muddiness or stumbling.

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Le Tombeau de Couperin No. 4: RigaudonMaurice Ravel12rank/position

Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin 4. Rigaudon pf. Saori Haji

Maurice Ravel, who lost many acquaintances in World War I, composed Le Tombeau de Couperin as a tribute to them.

The fourth piece, Rigaudon, is dedicated to the Gaudin brothers, Ravel’s childhood friends, and employs the rhythm of the lively dance “rigaudon,” which originates from the Provence region.

Its brisk character, which seems to express joyful memories of his childhood companions, feels all the more poignant once you know the background of the work.

Try performing it while imagining Ravel’s feelings.

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In the style of BorodinMaurice Ravel13rank/position

With Commentary: Ravel ‘In the Style of… Borodin’ / Ravel À la manière de… Borodine

As the title “In the Style of Borodin” suggests, this work is a waltz that imitates the style of the Russian composer Alexander Borodin.

It unfolds in a graceful triple meter in D-flat major and is known as a charming miniature interwoven with distinctive sonorities.

Written by the French composer Maurice Ravel as part of a series of pieces “in the style of” various composers, it premiered in December 1913.

To bring out the beauty of its wide leaps and complex chords, delicate control is required.

It makes an excellent addition to daily practice, offering a repertoire that balances technical skill with lyrical expression.

An old-fashioned minuetMaurice Ravel14rank/position

Ravel / Menuet in the Old Style / Performed by Mariko Kaneda

Menuet antique is a work Maurice Ravel wrote around the age of 20, before he had fully established his distinctive “Ravel-esque” style.

As the title suggests, it evokes a certain stately elegance reminiscent of Baroque music.

Although the score appears complex and may seem daunting at first glance, it is among the more approachable pieces within Ravel’s generally demanding oeuvre.

Despite being an early work, its meticulous craftsmanship and delicacy are quintessentially Ravel.

Don’t let yourself focus solely on chasing the notes; practice repeatedly and aim for a performance with poise and room to breathe.

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From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye’: No. 1 Pavane of the Sleeping BeautyMaurice Ravel15rank/position

[Piano Four Hands] Ravel — Ma Mère l’Oye, No. 1: Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty

An elegant piano duet inspired by the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.

Written for two children, it is considerate in its technical demands and not overly difficult.

Its gentle melody in A minor conveys a dreamlike sense of comfort.

Although it lasts only about a minute and a half, it unfolds a delicate world built on the classical pavane dance form.

The layered chords and richly colored sonorities produced by four hands offer a depth of musical experience unattainable in a solo performance.

Composed in 1908, it was later arranged for orchestra and ballet.

This piece is recommended for those who wish to leave a dazzling impression at recitals or concerts.

ParadeMaurice Ravel16rank/position

Maurice Ravel – La Parade [w/ score]

A piece whose powerful, dramatic sound stirs the listener’s heart, as if heralding the beginning of a grand tale.

It is a work by Toshio Horiuchi, who teaches in Hiroshima Prefecture and has composed numerous band pieces.

From the delicate interplay of sounds in the quiet sections to the breathtaking build toward a climax where the full ensemble charges forward as one, the piece offers a deeply immersive experience—like living through the prologue of a legend in music.

Composed in 2006 as a set piece for the All Japan Band Competition, it is featured in the album “Reference Performances of Set Pieces for the All Japan Band Competition 2005‑2008.” Demanding not only individual technique but the expressive power of the entire band, this masterpiece is one you’ll want to perform when you and your ensemble wish to weave a single, sweeping story together.

La ValseMaurice Ravel17rank/position

Ravel: La Valse (piano four hands) Pf. piaNA (Asuka Sakuma & Natsuki Nishimoto): piaNA (Sakuma, Asuka / Nishimoto, Natsuki)

Maurice Ravel, a great composer who produced numerous masterpieces with his avant-garde musicality.

Among his works, La Valse is a particularly beloved piece for piano four hands.

Although it is considered an advanced-level work, it is actually more approachable to perform than its impression suggests.

The sections written on three staves and the coda are the main challenges; in the three-stave section, rapid passages appear one after another.

While there are passages that are physically unplayable in a solo version, the difficulty drops considerably in the four-hand arrangement, making it accessible even for performers just entering the advanced level.

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Pavane for a Dead Princess in G majorMaurice Ravel18rank/position

Ravel / Pavane for a Dead Princess / Performed by Rentarō Daidōji

Maurice Ravel, a composer whose highly original style influenced many artists, is also very popular in Japan.

Among Ravel’s works, a piece I especially recommend is the Pavane for a Dead Princess in G major.

Written in G major, in 4/4 time and in rondo form, it features a relaxed rhythm and a main theme with an exotic atmosphere.

When it comes to beautiful melodies, many people would probably name this piece.

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A noble and sentimental waltzMaurice Ravel19rank/position

Krystian Zimerman plays Valses Nobles et Sentimentales (Maurice Ravel) – Complete

Maurice Ravel was a French composer of Swiss-Basque descent.

A leading figure of Impressionism, his music is marked by artisanal precision and formal perfection.

Composed in 1911 as a suite for piano, Valses nobles et sentimentales was named as an homage to Schubert’s Valses nobles and Valses sentimentales.

Consisting of eight waltzes and an epilogue, the work is distinguished by sonorities that depart from traditional tonality.

In particular, the fifth waltz expresses deep inner emotions through delicate chromatic shifts, and Ravel himself pointed to the seventh waltz as a distinctive number.

Freely moving between atonality and tonality while displaying a wide range of musical expression, this work can be seen as emblematic of Ravel’s musical explorations.

Noble and Sentimental Waltzes: Waltz No. 2, Assez lent (fairly slow), G minorMaurice Ravel20rank/position

Valses nobles et sentimentales No.2 – Ravel/Nathan Gnewikow

A work with an introspective atmosphere that feels like peering into the depths of the heart, it is included in Maurice Ravel’s suite Valses nobles et sentimentales.

There’s an anecdote that it was performed at a private concert in 1911 with the composer’s identity kept secret.

Within the gently flowing time, noble yet sentimental melodies emerge, as if quietly staying close to the listener’s heart.

The traditional waltz rhythm hides some unexpectedly piquant sonorities that seem to express unspoken, complex emotions.

It’s a perfect piece for those who want to learn about subtle changes in tone color and long-breathed phrasing.

The key is to play as if breathing, imbuing each note with intention so as not to break the work’s mysterious atmosphere.