Maurice Ravel was a French composer and pianist, one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music. His work was not only important for its intrinsic aesthetic value but also for the way it influenced many other composers in the 20th century and beyond.
Early life and education
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was born in the small coastal town of Ciboure, France, on March 7, 1875. His mother was of Basque origin, and his father was a Swiss inventor and industrialist. The family moved to Paris shortly after Ravel’s birth, and this is where he spent the majority of his life. His mother’s Basque heritage and her lullabies influenced his later works.
Ravel showed an early affinity for music and began piano lessons at age seven. At the age of 14, he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire, France’s leading music college. Here he studied piano and composition. Ravel, a meticulous and slow worker, did not fit well into the fast-paced environment of the Conservatoire. Although he won several awards for his piano performances, his teachers often criticized his reluctance to produce more works.
Career
Ravel left the Paris Conservatoire in 1895 without obtaining any major prizes or diplomas, causing a considerable setback to his career. Despite this, he continued to compose and began taking private lessons with the renowned French composer Gabriel Fauré, who greatly influenced his early compositions.
In 1905, Ravel composed his breakthrough work, the “String Quartet in F Major.” This piece was admired by many established composers, including Claude Debussy, who wrote to Ravel to congratulate him on his brilliant work. His success continued with the composition of his piano pieces “Jeux d’eau” (1901) and “Miroirs” (1905).
Over the next years, Ravel composed some of his most famous works, such as the orchestral pieces “Rapsodie Espagnole” (1907) and “Boléro” (1928). He also made significant contributions to opera and ballet music, including “L’heure Espagnole” (1907-1909) and “Daphnis et Chloé” (1912).
His piano compositions, such as “Gaspard de la Nuit” (1908), are still considered among the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire. Also notable are his piano concertos, like the “Piano Concerto in G Major” (1929–31), which combines classical form with jazz elements.
World War I
During World War I, Ravel tried to enlist in the French Air Force but was rejected because of his small stature and age. He then joined the Thirteenth Artillery Regiment as a lorry driver, transporting munitions at the front line, a service that exposed him to the horrors of war. This experience had a profound impact on his compositions, with the Piano Trio (1914) and Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917), both showing influences of his time in the war.
Later years
In the 1920s and 1930s, Ravel reached international fame. He toured Europe, the USA, and Canada, performing his own works and earning considerable acclaim. However, his health started to decline in 1927. He was involved in a taxi accident that left him with severe head injuries, which some speculate led to his gradual cognitive decline.
Despite his declining health, Ravel continued to compose. His final composition was the song cycle “Don Quichotte à Dulcinée” (1932-1933).
Ravel died on December 28, 1937, following an unsuccessful brain operation aimed at alleviating his symptoms. His death marked the end of an era of French music, and his works remain an essential part of the classical music repertoire.
Legacy
Maurice Ravel left a significant mark on 20th-century music. He was a master of orchestration, as demonstrated by his own works and his orchestration of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
Ravel’s music is characterized by its meticulous craftsmanship, rich harmonic language, and combination of a wide range of styles, including baroque, classical, jazz, and music of his native Basque region. His works have influenced many subsequent composers, and his unique musical voice continues to be celebrated by audiences and musicians around the world.
His influence extends beyond classical music. Elements of his compositions can be found in the works of jazz musicians, film scores, and even popular music. Today, Maurice Ravel is remembered as a profound and versatile composer, whose contributions continue to inspire and challenge musicians across genres.
Maurice Ravel (1875 – 1937)
Maurice Ravel was a French composer and pianist, one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music. His work was not only important for its intrinsic aesthetic value but also for the way it influenced many other composers in the 20th century and beyond.
Early life and education
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was born in the small coastal town of Ciboure, France, on March 7, 1875. His mother was of Basque origin, and his father was a Swiss inventor and industrialist. The family moved to Paris shortly after Ravel’s birth, and this is where he spent the majority of his life. His mother’s Basque heritage and her lullabies influenced his later works.
Ravel showed an early affinity for music and began piano lessons at age seven. At the age of 14, he was accepted into the Paris Conservatoire, France’s leading music college. Here he studied piano and composition. Ravel, a meticulous and slow worker, did not fit well into the fast-paced environment of the Conservatoire. Although he won several awards for his piano performances, his teachers often criticized his reluctance to produce more works.
Career
Ravel left the Paris Conservatoire in 1895 without obtaining any major prizes or diplomas, causing a considerable setback to his career. Despite this, he continued to compose and began taking private lessons with the renowned French composer Gabriel Fauré, who greatly influenced his early compositions.
In 1905, Ravel composed his breakthrough work, the “String Quartet in F Major.” This piece was admired by many established composers, including Claude Debussy, who wrote to Ravel to congratulate him on his brilliant work. His success continued with the composition of his piano pieces “Jeux d’eau” (1901) and “Miroirs” (1905).
Over the next years, Ravel composed some of his most famous works, such as the orchestral pieces “Rapsodie Espagnole” (1907) and “Boléro” (1928). He also made significant contributions to opera and ballet music, including “L’heure Espagnole” (1907-1909) and “Daphnis et Chloé” (1912).
His piano compositions, such as “Gaspard de la Nuit” (1908), are still considered among the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire. Also notable are his piano concertos, like the “Piano Concerto in G Major” (1929–31), which combines classical form with jazz elements.
World War I
During World War I, Ravel tried to enlist in the French Air Force but was rejected because of his small stature and age. He then joined the Thirteenth Artillery Regiment as a lorry driver, transporting munitions at the front line, a service that exposed him to the horrors of war. This experience had a profound impact on his compositions, with the Piano Trio (1914) and Le Tombeau de Couperin (1917), both showing influences of his time in the war.
Later years
In the 1920s and 1930s, Ravel reached international fame. He toured Europe, the USA, and Canada, performing his own works and earning considerable acclaim. However, his health started to decline in 1927. He was involved in a taxi accident that left him with severe head injuries, which some speculate led to his gradual cognitive decline.
Despite his declining health, Ravel continued to compose. His final composition was the song cycle “Don Quichotte à Dulcinée” (1932-1933).
Ravel died on December 28, 1937, following an unsuccessful brain operation aimed at alleviating his symptoms. His death marked the end of an era of French music, and his works remain an essential part of the classical music repertoire.
Legacy
Maurice Ravel left a significant mark on 20th-century music. He was a master of orchestration, as demonstrated by his own works and his orchestration of Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
Ravel’s music is characterized by its meticulous craftsmanship, rich harmonic language, and combination of a wide range of styles, including baroque, classical, jazz, and music of his native Basque region. His works have influenced many subsequent composers, and his unique musical voice continues to be celebrated by audiences and musicians around the world.
His influence extends beyond classical music. Elements of his compositions can be found in the works of jazz musicians, film scores, and even popular music. Today, Maurice Ravel is remembered as a profound and versatile composer, whose contributions continue to inspire and challenge musicians across genres.
Discography
Colores del sur
Femke IJlstra
Celia García-García