HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Maurice Ravel

Born on 7 March 1875 in Ciboure (in the Pyrenees in the southwest corner of France eleven miles from Spain), Maurice Ravel was labeled an impressionist composer, and well buttons the late Romantic period bridging to modern. Like Debussy and others, Ravel was a symbolist. Also like Debussy and others, he is described as an Impressionist, though the attachment was less made by them than by critics who saw resemblances between impressionist music and Impressionist painting. Writing largely for orchestra, chamber, stage and voice, that Ravel's catalogue is relatively less extensive than some is mainly due to ever reshaping his works to perfectionistic detail. "Complex" or "exotic" recur often in descriptions of his work.

Ravel's mother had been a poor Basque until she married his father, an impressive engineer and inventor. He began piano at age six, his M A1, 'La Jeunesse d'Hercule', was a piano four-hands arrangement of Saint-Saëns' eponymous Op 50 of 1877. Opera in Ravel are expressed as "M" with "A" signifying arrangements and transcriptions per 'Maurice Ravel' by Marcel Marnat (Fayard 1986 Paris). Ravel's M 1 is assigned to a lost 'Piano Sonata' of 1888. He gave his first public piano recital in 1889. Though he had earlier studied composition, his first intent works didn't begin to appear until circa 1893 as a student at the Paris Conservatoire where his choice to emphasize composing over piano would bring him to write some of the most difficult pieces that a pianist can play. His first published work was 'Menuet Antique' in F♯ minor for solo piano M 7 in 1895, later orchestrated in 1929.

'Menuet Antique' M 7 in F-sharp minor Maurice Ravel

Comp 1895 Premiere 18 April 1898 at the Salle Érard in Paris w piano by Ricardo Viñes

Pub 1898 in Paris

Piano: Louis Lortie

IMSLP Blair Johnston Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia

'Menuet Antique' M 7a in F-sharp minor Maurice Ravel

Orchestrated 1929 Premiere 11 Jan 1930 w Ravel conducting

Cleveland Orchestra / Pierre Boulez

IMSLP Blair Johnston Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia

Though recognized by teachers to be a talented student, Ravel's progressive ideas didn't settle well with the more conservative Conservatoire director, Théodore Dubois. His failure to adhere to Conservatory authority meant inability to win enough requisite medals to keep him in school. He later returned in 1898 to study under Gabriel Fauré. He also privately studied with composer, André Gedalge. Around 1900 he began to hang with the Apaches, a loose group of avant-garde artists, musicians and poets. Albeit Claude Debussy wasn't an Apache, he was the composer whom the Apaches hailed to be at the vanguard of future French composition. Ravel had met Debussy, twelve years his senior, in the nineties, but in 1900 they began a friendship which nevertheless found them competing with one another professionally due both to comparative critics and Ravel's reservations as to Debussy's symbolism. Ravel was a pupil of Fauré's when he wrote among the earliest examples of impressionistic music, 'Jeux D'Eau', in November 1901.

'Jeux D'Eau' M 30 in E major Maurice Ravel

Comp Nov 1901 Premiere April 1902 at the Salle Pleyel in Paris

Dedicated to Gabriel Fauré Pub 1902 in Paris

Piano: Seong-Jin Cho

IMSLP Maurice Ravel Net Jean-Michel Serres Wikipedia

In 1908 Ravel composed three poems for piano titled, 'Gaspard de la nuit', a good example of impressionistic approach. Those were based on the 1836 poem by Aloysius Bertran. In 1909 Ravel crossed the Channel to London for the first time, again in 1911 on a tour including Edinburgh, Scotland. In the meantime he had accepted his first commission from impresario, Sergei Diaghilev, for the one-act ballet, 'Daphnis et Chloé', in 1909, toward its premiere in Paris on 8 June 1912. Daphnis is a shepherd on the island of Lesbos occupied by Nymphs. Daphnis loves Chloe who is captured by pirates but is save by the god, Pan.

'Gaspard de la Nuit' M 55 Three poems by Maurice Ravel

1. 'Ondine' in C-sharp major

2. 'Le Gibet' in E-flat minor

3. 'Scarbo' in B major

Based on Aloysius Bertrand of 1836

Comp 1908 Premiere 9 Jan 1909 at the Salle Érard in Paris w Ricardo Viñes at piano

Piano: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

IMSLP Blair Johnston Timothy Judd Maurice Ravel Net Frances Wilson Wikipedia

'Daphnis et Chloé' M 57 Ballet by Maurice Ravel

Comp 1909 Premiere 8 June 1912 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris

Pub 1910 (piano) 1913 (full score)

WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln / Jukka-Pekka Saraste

IMSLP Timothy Judd James M. Keller Ted Libbey Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia

Ravel made his first piano roll for Welte-Mignon in 1913 [Long], his 'Sonatine' Nos. 1-2 on #2887. During the Great War Ravel served as a truck driver at the Verdun front. Though World War I resulted in endeavors to erase German influence from French music, Ravel believed that music transcended national boundaries and didn't participate. It was during the War in January 1915 that his 'Piano Trio' in A minor for piano, violin and cello M 67 premiered in Paris w Alfredo Casella at piano, Louis Feuillard at cello and Gabriel Willaume at violin.

Movements 1 & 2 of 'Sonatine' M 40 Piano roll by Maurice Ravel

Welte-Mignon #2887 1913

'Sonatine' comp 1903-05 Pub in Paris 1905 Premiered 10 March 1906 in Lyons

Richard Dowling Maurice Ravel Net Bolin Miao Wikipedia

'Piano Trio' M 67 Maurice Ravel

Comp 1914 Premiere Jan 1915 in Paris:

Piano: Alfredo Casella Violin: Gabriel Willaume Cello: Louis Feuillard

Pub 1915 in Paris by Durand

This performance:

Piano: Louis Kentner Violin: Yehudi Menuhin Cello: Gaspar Cassadó

Aspen Music Festival Dennis Bade Charmain Boyakovsky Richard Dowling

Scott Foglesong IMSLP Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia

Also important to French music during the War was the formation of Nouveaux Jeunes in 1917 by composer, Erik Satie, which developed into Les Six. Modeled after Balakirev's Mighty Five, the Six was a reaction to both music of the German Wagnerian persuasion and the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel. Ravel had no argument with that, it being inevitable that music other than his own should arise. Another argument, however, might have come to a fatal end when he accepted another commission from Diaghilev (above) in 1919 for the ballet, 'La Valse' M 72 toward its premiere on 12 December 1920 in Paris. Having already been at work on an orchestrated version called 'Vienne', Ravel added an arrangement for solo piano as well. Diaghilev thought Ravel's work to be less a ballet than a "portrait of a ballet" for which slight Ravel ended their working relationship. During a later chance meeting in 1925 Ravel refused to shake Diaghilev's hand. Diaghilev believed such the affront sufficient cause for a duel and challenged him, but was persuaded to change his mind. (The duel had been about for several centuries as a means of "satisfaction" among aristocrats. They began as trials by combat over land disputes in Germany as early the 8th century. Thousands of gentlemen have lost their lives to the duel, though the purpose wasn't to kill so much as to prove, absolutely, that one's honor had been severely offended. The last duel in England was fought in 1845, in France in 1967.)

'La Valse' M 72 Poem symphonique by Maurice Ravel

Comp 1919-20 Premiere 12 Dec 1920 in Paris Pub 1921

Piano: Yuja Wang

Classy Classical Houston Symphony IMSLP

Steven Ledbetter Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia Frances Wilson

'La Valse' M 72 Poem symphonique by Maurice Ravel

Comp 1919-20 Premiere 12 Dec 1920 in Paris Pub 1921

Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France / Myung-Whun Chung

Classy Classical Houston Symphony IMSLP

Steven Ledbetter Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia Frances Wilson

In 1922 Ravel finished his 'Sonata for Violin and Cello' M 73, dedicated to the memory of Debussy, his major rival who had died in 1918.

'Sonata for Violin and Cello' M 73 Maurice Ravel

Comp 1920-22 Pub complete 1922

Violin: Charlotte Juillard Cello: Adrien Bellom

Meredith Gailey John Henken IMSLP

Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia David Yang

Ravel's opera, 'L'enfant et les sortilèges' ('The Child and the Spells') M 71, premiered on 21 March 1925 at the Monte Carlo Opera with conducting by Victor de Sabata incorporating a ragtime foxtrot. That was a one-act fantasy of two tableaux with libretto by author, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. This opera concerns a destructive child who breaks things until they come alive to pursue their revenge.

'L'Enfant et les Sortilèges' M 71 Opera by Maurice Ravel

'The Child and the Spells'

Comp 1919-25 Premiere 21 March 1925 at the Monte Carlo Opera

Libretto: Colette

Performance above:

Direction: Louis Langree Mise enscene et lumieres: Phillippe Sireuil

Costumes: Jorge Jara L'Enfant: Marie-Belle Sandis

Choeurs et Orchestre de L'Opera Naional de Lyon 1999

Orrin Howard IMSLP Maurice Ravel Net Margaret Reynolds Wikipedia

Ravel's 'Violin Sonata No.2' M 77 of 1927 contained blues. Jazz would show up in future works by Ravel who would also comment that he preferred jazz to the grand opera.

'Violin Sonata No.2' M 77 Maurice Ravel

Comp 1923-27 Pub 1927

Piano: Liza Stepanova Violin: Itamar Zorman 17 July 2020 in Athens GA

Mark DeVoto Isaac Drewes IMSLP Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia Brian Wise

In December 1927 Ravel left Europe for a tour of the United States, commencing in New York City to great acclaim in January 1928. America had been a proverbial pot of gold for European composers for the last half century. Ravel's original intention to tour for two months for $10,000 became four months for $50,000. Along the way he met George Gershwin at a soiree in New York City on 7 March 1928, then visited New Orleans in April, not to perform, but to see the birthplace of jazz. Upon his return to Paris in April he composed his 'Bolero' in C major M 81, perhaps his most famous experiment, given a large bump as well in the soundtrack of the 1979 Warner Brothers film starring Bo Derek, '10'. The success of its premiere at the Paris Opera on 22 Nov 1928 surprised even Ravel, having expected none. 'Bolero' was premiered w conducting by Walther Straram, choreography by Bronislava Nijinska and stage design by Alexandre Benois. It was published in 1929 with dedication to Russian dancer, Ida Rubinstein. Ravel followed 'Bolero' with his 'Piano Concerto for the Left Hand' M 82 in 1930 and 'Piano Concerto' in G major M 83 in 1931.

'Bolero' M 81 in C major Maurice Ravel

Comp 1928 Premiere 22 Nov 1928 at the Palais Garnier in Paris

Berliner Philharmoniker / Pierre Boulez

Britannica Classic fM Jay Gabler IMSLP

Maurice Ravel Net Rovi Staff Wikipedia English Википедия Русская

'Piano Concerto' M 83 in G major Maurice Ravel

Comp 1929-31 Pub 1932 in Paris

Brussels Philharmonic / Ilan Volkov Piano: Anna Fedorova

1 Sep 1924 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam

Classic fM Steven Ledbetter IMSLP Hugh Macdonald

Maurice Ravel Net Thomas May Rhode Island Philharmonic Wikipedia

On 8 Oct 1932 Ravel banged his head during an accident in a taxi, after which he began to have memory and speech troubles. He was so ill with periods of aphasia when he wrote his final composition, 'Don Quichotte à Dulcinée' M 84, that he required assistance with notation. Originally intended for a film score that didn't happen, at least not for Ravel, the three songs of the orchestrated version of 'Don Quichotte à Dulcinée' premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in December 1934 with baritone by Martial Singher and conducting by Paul Paray.

'Chanson à Boire' ('Drinking Song') No.3 of 3 of M 84 Maurice Ravel

No.3 of 3 of 'Don Quichotte à Dulcinée'

Comp 1932-33

Premiere Dec 1934 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris w baritone by Martial Singher

Libretto: Paul Morand

This performance above:

BBC Symphony Orchestra / Pierre Boulez Baritone: José Van Dam 1984

Meredith Gailey IMSLP Maurice Ravel Net Wikipedia

Ravel's last assigned opus in IMSLP is 'Morgaine' M 85 left incomplete in 1932. Thinking the symptoms of his illness might indicate a tumor, Ravel underwent surgery on 17 December 1937. No tumor was found, but upon recovering from anesthesia he lapsed into a coma and died in Paris 11 days later on 28 December [obit].

Sources & References for Maurice Ravel:

VF History (notes) Wikipedia English

Associates Literary:

Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (1873-1954 / author):

Britannica Aida Edemariam Elinor Evans Elena Nicolaou Amanda Prahl

Associates Musical:

Ida Rubenstein (1883-1960 / actress / dancer): Michael R. Evans Lynn Garafola Phillip Nones Wikipedia

Erik Satie (1866-1925 / composer): Britannica IMDb Rovi Staff Wikipedia

Les Six (circle of composers first surrounding Erik Satie, then poet, Jean Cocteau):

All Music Frank Moraes Your Classical Wikipedia

Audio of Ravel: Corpora:

10 Essential Pieces

British Broadcasting Corporation

Classical Archives

Europeana

Forte-Piano-Pianissimo

Audio of Ravel: Individual: Chronological:

Menuet Antique (M 7 / comp 1895 / piano: Walter Gieseking)

Daphnis et Chloé (M 57 / comp 1909 / Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal / Charles Dutoit / 2016)

Violin Sonata No.2 (M 77 / comp 1927 / piano: Franck Braley / violin: Renaud Capuçon)

Bolero (M 81 / comp 1928 / Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Sir Georg Solti / 1977)

Piano Concerto (M 83 / comp 1931 / Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra / Yuri Temirkanov / piano: Martha Argerich / Nobel Prize Concert 2009)

Piano Concerto (M 83 / comp 1931 / Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire / André Cluytens / piano: Samson François / Paris 1959)

Piano Concerto (M 83 / comp 1931 / Gewandhausorchester Leipzig / Riccardo Chailly / piano: Hélène Grimaud / 2012)

Don Quichotte à Dulcinée (M 84 / comp 1933 / Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lyon / baritone: José van Dam)

Compositions:

Classic Cat (by title)

Johannes Hanstein (by genre)

IMSLP (by date / genre / key / M / title)

IMSLP (by title)

Klassika (by date / genre / title)

Musique et Musiciens (by genre) (alt)

Pytheas (by genre)

Rate Your Music (by genre)

Wikipedia (by date / genre / M / title)

Wikipedia (by genre)

Wind Repertory Project (works for winds)

Documentaries:

Famous Composers: Maurice Ravel (Academy Media)

Maurice Ravel (BBC / narrated by John Abineri / 1973)

Maurizio! The Life and Times of Maurice Ravel (Susan Waterfall / 2023)

Mirrors: Reflections on Maurice Ravel (BBC / narrated by Paul Crossley / 1987)

Ravel's Brain (Bullfrog Films / 2000)

Ravel, "Tzigane" and the Olympic Spirit at Fontainebleau (François Bibonne of Studio Thi Koan)

Iconography: Wikimedia Commons

Impressionism: Music: Lumen Learning Piano TV Karla Walker Wikipedia

Impressionism: Painting: Art Story Art Wolf Khan Academy Kelly Richman-Abdou Wikipedia

Lyrics / Texts: Emily Ezust (LiederNet)

Recordings of Ravel: Catalogs (see also Audio above):

Arkiv Music Discogs Music Brainz Piano Discography Ravel Edition

Scores / Sheet Music:

Abe Books (vendor / Amazon subsidiary) CPDL (choral works) Éditions Séguier

Internet Archive Kreusch Musicalics (vendor)

MusOpen Notenlager (vendor Europe) ScorSer

Symbolism in Music: Anthi Georgiadou Steven Loss Wikipedia