Introduction

Maurice Ravel is known for his eccentric style and rebellious nature. He was often offered bribes to complete homework assignments from school, and he often skipped school altogether. Nonetheless, he was a great individual composer. He refused to obey musical conventions and loved to find examples of similar examples in the works of established masters in order to refute his professors. His work gives us a sense of fantasy and often encompasses us in its originality.

Historical Context

Maurice Ravel was born March 7th, 1875. He was born in the Pyrenees but was raised in Paris. He attended the World Exhibition Fair in 1899. This was a major turning point in his career. Here he heard the works of Rimsky-Korsakov, and fell in love. He gained a much needed influence and upon returning to Paris he began studying with String Quartet in F Major, which has become a very famous chamber piece and part of The Fifteen Greatest. Nonetheless, Ravel could not impress the Paris Conservatoire judges, and he was eliminated from the Prix de Rome competition in the first round. Fauré lobbied for him and soon there was a mass riot over this small controversy. The previous director of the Conservatoire resigned and Fauré took over at his position.

In 1908, Ravel pursued his most magnificent ballet entitled Daphnis et Chloe. It contains some of his most remarkable and beautiful music and was a success as a ballet and a orchestral piece. Following this piece, he served in World War I. He served because he felt he had a responsibility to his country. His country felt that he should remain at home, but he still enlisted and was accepted. Upon returning, his mother died and he fell into a great depression. Finally after a time, he returned to composing and his output was once again phenomenal. He began to compose in reverence of his nation's past glories. This is demonstrated in Le Tombeau de Couperin, which was based on past Baroque dance themes.

Upon Debussy's death in 1918, Ravel became France's premier composer. However he tried to lessen his contact with a world that he continually viewed with suspicion. Many say that this paranoia was caused by his constant rejection in youth, but that has never been affirmed. Also, he began to grow sick, so although the quality of music did not degenerate, the quantity did. As he slowly came to a close in his creative output, France slowly began to lose a dazzling innovator in terms of technique in music and its orchestration. He died on December 28th, 1937.

His Famous Compositions

Ravel's chamber music includes the evocative nostalgia of the Introduction and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet, a violin sonata with a jazz-style blues movement, a piano trio and a string quartet. Tzigane, which is a remarkable excursion into extravagant gypsy style. His other notable pieces include Daphnis et Chloe, Piano Concerto in G Major, Piano Concerto for Left Hand, and Bolero.

• List of Chamber Works by Ravel
• Other Modern Composers
• Classical Music Pages: Maurice Ravel
• Classical Net: Maurice Ravel

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