Maurice Ravel Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Suite Ma mère l’Oye, No. 1: Pavane of the Sleeping BeautyMaurice Ravel8rank/position

Ravel: Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose)

Maurice Ravel’s Ma mère l’Oye, composed by the French composer and based on the traditional English nursery tales of Mother Goose, was originally written for piano four hands.

Orchestral and ballet versions derived from it are also widely beloved.

The first piece of the suite, Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty, is based on the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty and evokes a mysterious feeling, as if drifting within a dream.

Aim to perform with a soft, rounded tone to create a delicate, gentle atmosphere.

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Toccata from Le Tombeau de CouperinMaurice Ravel9rank/position

Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin 'Toccata' [27_ Classical piano piece with intense, fast score and commentary]

This piece, which serves as the finale of a six-movement suite composed in memory of friends who died in World War I, is distinguished by its fast tempo and virtuosic passages—a gem that adds a modern interpretation to a form developed since the Baroque era.

Premiered at the Salle Gaveau in Paris in April 1919, it has continued to captivate performers and audiences alike ever since.

In addition to its brilliant and powerful sonorities, it masterfully fuses Maurice Ravel’s distinctive harmonies and rhythmic sense, overwhelming listeners with its intensity.

Although it demands advanced technical skill, it is a superb work that can enthrall a live audience, making it a perfect choice for those who wish to perform at a piano recital.

Minuet on the Name of HaydnMaurice Ravel10rank/position

Minuet on the Name of Haydn, M. 58

Minuet on the Name of Haydn, composed in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Franz Joseph Haydn’s death.

This piece is a short piano work contributed by Maurice Ravel for a special feature organized by a music magazine of the time.

The phrase “on the name of Haydn” in the title means that Haydn’s name is converted into musical notes and used as the theme.

Though the method is playful, the piece itself is old-fashioned and refined, employing the minuet form.

Within its brief duration of about two minutes, it is packed with Ravel’s characteristically sophisticated sonorities.

Its quiet, intellectual atmosphere will gently accompany times that demand concentration, such as reading or studying.

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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In the style of BorodinMaurice Ravel12rank/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.

Le Tombeau de Couperin No. 4: RigaudonMaurice Ravel13rank/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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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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