Best Ravel

La Valse is an orchestral work by Maurice Ravel, completed in 1920. Originally conceived as a ballet, the piece is subtitled a choreographic poem and evokes the culture of Vienna through the structure of a waltz that becomes increasingly dissonant and chaotic. Ravel described the work as a tribute t...

Ondine is the first movement of Maurice Ravel's 1908 solo piano suite Gaspard de la nuit. The piece depicts a water nymph singing to attract a mortal, drawing on the poem of the same name by Aloysius Bertrand. It is noted for its Impressionistic textures, rapid arpeggios, and evocative use of sustai...

Maurice Ravel completed his Piano Concerto in G major in 1931, writing the piece partly during his tour of North America. The concerto is structured in three movements and blends the clarity of classical forms with direct influences from American jazz, including syncopated rhythms. Its second moveme...

'Jeux d'eau' is a solo piano piece composed by Maurice Ravel in 1901, with a title that translates to 'Playing Water' or 'Fountains.' Dedicated to his teacher Gabriel Fauré, the work explores the sounds and fluid movement of water through cascading arpeggios and complex harmonics. It is an early exa...

Maurice Ravel composed the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major between 1929 and 1930 specifically for the Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm during World War I. Written for a large orchestra, the one-movement piece creates the auditory illusion of two-handed playing t...

Le gibet is the second movement of Maurice Ravel's solo piano suite Gaspard de la nuit, completed in 1908. This bleak, slow-tempo piece is noted for its persistent B-flat ostinato that rings continuously throughout the composition, designed to evoke the chilling atmosphere of a corpse hanging from a...

Maurice Ravel's La valse is an orchestral work completed in 1920 and described by the composer as a choreographic poem. Conceived around the Viennese waltz, it begins with fragments emerging from a dark orchestral texture before developing into increasingly dense and unstable dance music. The score...

"Valses nobles et sentimentales" is a suite of waltzes composed by the French impressionist composer Maurice Ravel. The work was first performed as a piano piece in 1911 and was subsequently orchestrated by Ravel in 1912 for a ballet titled "Adélaïde, ou Le langage des fleurs." The composition is hi...

Maurice Ravel's String Quartet in F Major is a four-movement chamber work for two violins, viola, and cello, completed in 1903 and dedicated to Gabriel Fauré. Its cyclical design brings related themes back across the movements, while pizzicato writing, unusual meters, and carefully balanced instrume...

*Ma mère l'Oye* is a work by the French composer Maurice Ravel, originally written in 1910 as a suite of five pieces for piano four-hands. The music depicts scenes from classic French fairy tales, including "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast." Ravel later orchestrated the suite and expanded...

Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand in D major is a significant orchestral work composed for solo piano. Commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein following his injury during World War I, it showcases remarkable technical and expressive capabilities within a single-hand performance. The concerto's dram...

Ravel’s *Daphnis et Chloé* is a significant orchestral composition from 1912. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, it showcases Ravel's mastery of impressionistic orchestration and harmonic language. The work blends Greek mythology with musical color to create a rich and evocativ...

The Prélude is the opening movement of Maurice Ravel's piano suite Le Tombeau de Couperin, composed between 1914 and 1917. The suite pays homage to the musical style of the French Baroque, specifically honoring composer François Couperin. Each movement of the work is dedicated to a friend of Ravel w...

Rapsodie espagnole is a four-movement orchestral suite by the French composer Maurice Ravel, completed in 1908. The work draws heavily on Spanish dance rhythms and explores vivid instrumental colors characteristic of the Impressionist movement. Its movements include Prélude à la nuit, Malagueña, Hab...

Maurice Ravel’s *Daphnis et Chloé* is an orchestral work originally conceived for the Ballets Russes in 1912. The piece portrays a pastoral love story through richly layered textures and evocative harmonies characteristic of Ravel's modern style. It remains notable for its innovative orchestration a...

Maurice Ravel composed Valses nobles et sentimentales, a suite of eight waltzes for solo piano, in 1911, premiering at a concert of the Société Musicale Indépendante. The title references Schubert's Valses nobles and Valses sentimentales. Ravel orchestrated the suite the following year as a ballet t...

Ravel’s La Valse is a 20th-century French orchestral work originally conceived as music for a ballet. Noted for its dramatic evolution from a graceful Viennese waltz to a turbulent and ultimately destructive climax, the piece showcases Ravel's masterful orchestration. It remains a significant exampl...

Rapsodie espagnole is an orchestral work by Maurice Ravel, written between 1907 and 1908 and adapted partly from an earlier composition for two pianos. Its four movements are Prélude à la nuit, Malagueña, Habanera, and Feria, with recurring motifs helping connect the suite. Ravel evokes Spanish danc...

Ravel’s String Quartet in F major is a significant early work by the composer. Completed in 1903, it demonstrates Ravel's developing style influenced by Debussy’s impressionism. The quartet’s notable clarity and sophisticated harmonies appeal to musicians studying 20th-century classical music or tho...

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major is a significant 20th-century composition notable for its innovative blend of Impressionistic style and subtle jazz harmonies. The work features a distinctive opening gesture and showcases Ravel's mastery of orchestral color. It remains a staple of the classical rep...

Roland Béjart’s Bolero is a modern ballet renowned for its powerful choreography set to Maurice Ravel's orchestral work of the same name. The piece features a male dancer’s continuous circling of a female partner, exploring themes of passion and obsession through dramatic movement and musical intens...

Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major is a significant work of modern classical music composed in 1931. The concerto blends elements of jazz and Basque musical traditions, creating a distinctive soundscape. Its complex harmonies and evocative melodies make it notable for its innovative approach...

Ravel’s *La Valse* is a significant orchestral composition from 1920. The work evokes a fading Viennese waltz tradition through complex harmonies and shifting rhythms. It's notable for its impressionistic style and innovative use of orchestration. Primarily intended for professional orchestras and e...

Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte is a solo piano composition from 1899 notable for its evocative impressionistic style. The piece creates a tranquil and mournful atmosphere reminiscent of a Spanish courtly dance. It's frequently performed by classical pianists and appreciated by listeners dra...

Ravel’s Boléro is an iconic 20th-century orchestral composition. The piece features a single, sustained melodic theme that gradually builds in intensity through a prolonged crescendo. This innovative approach to orchestration and dynamic development established Ravel as a key figure in the impressio...

Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 in G major represents a significant work within the composer's modern French output. Created between 1923 and 1927, it is recognized for its innovative violin-piano textures and particularly its second movement which incorporates blues harmonic elements. This sonata is fr...

Maurice Ravel’s *Valse nobles et sentimentales* is a piano suite composed in 1911. These eight waltzes showcase Ravel's innovative approach to harmony, drawing inspiration from Schubert while establishing a distinctly modern style. The work is notable for its complex textures and evocative melodies,...

Claude Debussy’s Ravel composed Daphnis et Chloé, M. 57 in 1912 as a ballet commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. The work is recognized for its rich orchestral textures and innovative harmonic style reflecting Impressionist aesthetics. It remains a significant piece of classical music...

Georges Mendès France’s *Daphnis et Chloé* is a significant ballet from the 20th century. It tells the story of an idyllic love affair between Daphnis and Chloé, set within the world of ancient Greece. The work prominently features music by Maurice Ravel and choreography by Sir William Ashton. It's...