Introducing Maurice Ravel’s Famous and Representative Works

“Ma mère l’Oye” Scene 3: Dialogue of Beauty and the BeastMaurice Ravel

Ravel: Ballet Music 'Ma mère l’Oye': Dialogue of Beauty and the Beast [Naxos Classical Curator #Fantasy]

Maurice Ravel, the French composer renowned for his masterful portrayals of fairy-tale worlds.

A passage from his suite Ma mère l’Oye brilliantly renders the story of Beauty and the Beast in sound.

Set to an elegant waltz, a sweet woodwind melody representing Beauty and the heavy, ominous timbre of the contrabassoon embodying the Beast unfold like a dialogue, drawing listeners into the story’s realm.

Originally premiered in 1910 as a piano four-hands piece and later orchestrated, the work was memorably used in the 2021 film The Worst Person in the World.

Interweaving unease and beauty, it’s perfect for creating a slightly grown-up, mysterious Halloween mood.

If you listen while imagining how the tale concludes, you’ll enjoy it all the more.

Gaspard of the Night, M. 55: II. The GallowsMaurice Ravel

M.Ravel – Gaspard de la Nuit, M.55 – II.Le gibet

One of the pieces from Maurice Ravel’s 1908 piano suite Gaspard de la nuit, it sonically depicts the desolate scenes evoked by the poetry of Aloysius (Louis) Bertrand.

A striking feature of this work is the relentless repetition of the same note—symbolizing a bell tolling in the distance—more than 150 times from beginning to end.

Over this monotone resonance, eerie harmonies accumulate, drawing the listener into a meditative world dominated by the stillness of death.

For performers, failing to maintain the strict tempo and balance of sonorities risks undermining the work’s harrowing gloom.

This piece is frequently programmed in competitions.

Why not try playing it when you wish to touch the quiet beauty that lies at the bottom of sorrow?

Sonatine in F-sharp minor, M. 40: II. MenuetMaurice Ravel

Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de Menuet

A piece I recommend for times when you want to quietly face your inner self is one from Maurice Ravel’s piano work Sonatine.

While it takes the elegant form of a classical minuet, this movement blends a hidden melancholy with refined sonorities, making it exquisitely beautiful.

As you listen to the melody, you can almost see a scene that maintains dignified grace even amid sorrow.

The work as a whole, including this piece, was choreographed as a ballet in 1975, and its narrative quality stimulates the listener’s imagination.

Rather than stirring intense emotions, it will surely stay close to your heart when you wish to surrender yourself gently to the piano’s delicate timbre.

Gaspard de la nuit, No. 1: OndineMaurice Ravel

Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit / Masaya Kamei

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

During the era of Impressionism, an artistic movement that emerged in Paris in the late 19th century, he was active in seeking freer forms of expression.

One of Ravel’s masterpieces, Gaspard de la nuit, is a suite for solo piano based on the poetry collection of the same name by Aloysius Bertrand.

In the first piece, Ondine, the water nymph Ondine falls in love with a human man but is rejected, and she disappears in sorrow and anger.

Ravel’s uniquely delicate sound world is captivating, evoking a fantastical, uncanny atmosphere in which one can almost hear the shimmer of water and the laughter of the spirit.

Suite ‘Mirrors’ No. 4: ‘Alborada del Gracioso’Maurice Ravel

Shunta Morimoto / Ravel: “Alborada del gracioso” (from the suite Miroirs) – Prizewinners’ Gala Concert

Maurice Ravel, a leading figure in Impressionist music, is known for the craftsmanship-like meticulousness and formal perfection of his compositions.

Alborada del gracioso, the fourth piece from the 1905 piano suite Miroirs, was later orchestrated by Ravel himself.

The work is notable for rhythms and instrumental colors influenced by Spanish music.

Frequently programmed in concerts and competitions, it’s a popular piece recommended for those who wish to experience Ravel’s innovative musical style.

Pavane for a Dead Princess in G majorMaurice Ravel

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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Minuet in C-sharp minorMaurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel – Minuet in C-sharp minor (audio + sheet music)

This is a very short piece, about one minute long, said to have been written around 1904 as a practice assignment for a close composer friend.

Within the classical minuet form, it carries Ravel’s characteristic refined sonorities and a subtly introspective mood.

Rather than dazzling display, the piece conveys restrained elegance—melancholy and beautiful, as if translating delicate, hidden emotions directly into sound.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants an easy introduction to Ravel’s unique aesthetic sensibility.

Because its structure is concise and free of unnecessary ornamentation, the key is to play each note with care while picturing the steps of an elegant dance.

Aim to express the nuances of the heart within its soft, subdued atmosphere.