Introducing Maurice Ravel’s Famous and Representative Works
Maurice Ravel, one of the most important figures in Impressionist music.
His works are meticulously crafted down to the finest details, grounded firmly in classical forms while blending in Impressionist expression.
As a result, his music has a uniquely singular character that only he could create.
He also arranged works by other composers for orchestra, and his outstanding orchestration earned him the nicknames “genius of orchestration” and “magician of the orchestra.”
In this article, we introduce Ravel’s masterpieces and signature works.
Even if you’re not familiar with classical music, there are pieces you have probably heard somewhere at least once.
Enjoy the many wonderful masterpieces of Ravel!
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[Maurice Ravel] Introducing Famous and Representative Works (71–80)
String Quartet in F Major, Second MovementMaurice Ravel
Ravel, the French composer famous for works such as Daphnis et Chloé and Boléro, was a composer of Impressionist music, one of the classical music movements that emerged in early 20th-century France.
It was born from applying the new technique of “Impressionism,” widely used at the time by painters like Monet, Renoir, and Cézanne in the French art world, to the realm of music.
This piece makes a striking impression by beginning with pizzicato, a technique in which all four instruments pluck the strings, and as the piece unfolds, the mood shifts rapidly, conjuring up a variety of scenes in the listener’s mind.
Suite ‘Mirrors’ No. 3 ‘A Boat on the Ocean’Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel, a French composer, is a leading figure of Impressionist music who flourished from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
His music is renowned for its precision and impeccable style, and works like Boléro are widely beloved.
The third piece, “Une barque sur l’océan” (A Boat on the Ocean), from the suite Miroirs composed between 1904 and 1905, is a beautiful work that evokes the flow of the sea’s waves and the rocking of a boat.
Although it demands a high level of piano technique, its beautiful sonorities are irresistibly captivating.
It is a recommended piece for those who wish to feel the beauty and mystery of the sea, and for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of Impressionist music.
Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty, from the suite Ma mère l’Oye (Mother Goose), No. 1Maurice Ravel
Ma mère l’Oye is a piano duet suite composed on the basis of traditional English nursery rhymes and is one of the best-known works in the duet repertoire.
Maurice Ravel created an orchestral suite from this piece as well, and because of its great popularity, solo piano arrangements—though not by the composer himself—have also been published.
The first movement, Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty, is an appealing piece with a calm, flowing, and peaceful atmosphere.
It’s also recommended to listen to the duet and orchestral versions to broaden your image before practicing.
[Maurice Ravel] Introducing Famous and Representative Works (81–90)
BoleroMaurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel, a French composer who had a profound impact on the music world with his original structures.
He achieved success with works in various forms, and he also left masterpieces in the realm of ballet music.
Among them, one of his most famous works is Boléro.
In Japan it is known by the same title, “Bolero,” and it continues to be popular today as a standalone musical piece that transcends the framework of ballet.
The work features a highly distinctive structure in which two melodies are repeated, and by focusing on that aspect as you listen, you can appreciate the high level of craftsmanship in the piece.
“Gaspard de la nuit” — “The Gallows”Maurice Ravel
The title “Gaspard de la nuit” is taken from the poet Bertrand’s collection of 64 prose poems.
From this collection, Ravel chose three pieces with strong elements of fantasy and the macabre—“Ondine,” “Le Gibet,” and “Scarbo”—and fashioned them into passionate piano works, weaving in extraordinary virtuosity to capture their imagery.
The poem for “Le Gibet” depicts a corpse hanging from the gallows, countless crickets and spiders lurking at its feet, and the continuous tolling of a distant bell, all bathed in the red glow of the setting sun.
It is a piece that superbly conveys the resonant, evocative sound of the bell and a dim, eerie atmosphere.
Pavane for a Dead QueenMaurice Ravel
When people are asked about masterpieces of piano music, many probably think of Pavane for a Dead Princess.
This work is a masterpiece by Maurice Ravel, a composer whose avant-garde musical language had a profound influence on contemporary music.
While Ravel did not state his evaluation of the piece during his lifetime, in his later years he expressed a special sentiment toward it.
Knowing this background can make the work even more moving, so be sure to check it out.
Don Quixote, who has set his heart on Princess DulcineaMaurice Ravel
Composed in 1932–33.
A vocal work with orchestral accompaniment.
The poems are by Paul Morand.
It originated when a film production company making a movie titled Don Quixote commissioned songs for inclusion in the film.
However, the company had actually commissioned multiple composers, and in the end Ibert’s work was chosen, so Ravel’s pieces were not used in the film.
Nonetheless, they began to be performed as concert works and also in a version with piano accompaniment.