Ravel in ten facts
Article
This year, we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of French composer Maurice Ravel (1875–1937), one of the most distinctive and influential musical voices of his time. To mark this special milestone, we share ten fascinating facts that offer insight into his unique life and the enduring mystery surrounding this creative spirit.
Not the Native American tribe, but the ‘Société des Apaches,’ an art circle around 1900 with Ravel as a central figure. The name emerged when members were chased by a newspaper vendor shouting, "Attention les Apaches!" Well-known members included Igor Stravinsky and Léon-Paul Fargue.
The Grand Prix de Rome was a prestigious music award. Ravel made five attempts, but only won a second prize. His exclusion in his last attempt raised questions about jury bias, leading to the press campaign ‘Case Ravel’ and a broader debate on fairness in the arts.
Ravel wanted to compose A piano piece with only one aim: to surpass everything. waltz in honor of Strauss, but World War I changed his vision. La Valse became a dark piece, and Diaghilev refused to perform it, ending their collaboration. Diaghilev said, “It is a masterpiece, but it is not a ballet, it is a painting of a ballet.”
In 1916, Ravel refused to join the Ligue pour la défense de la musique française, which banned German works. He believed artistic value outweighed nationality, speaking out against excluding composers like Schoenberg, whose work he felt positively influenced other musicians.
In 1927, Ravel was commissioned to create a Spanish ballet. Instead of orchestrating existing Spanish music, he composed the Boléro, a 17-minute piece consisting of one crescendo. What he called a simple orchestration exercise became one of his most famous works.
On his 53rd birthday, Ravel met George Gershwin in New York. Gershwin wanted composition lessons from him, but Ravel declined, saying Gershwin should remain true to himself. Ironically, both died in 1937 under similar circumstances.
Ravel wrote this piano concerto for Paul Wittgenstein, who lost his right arm in World War I. The piece was so difficult that Wittgenstein made changes. Ravel found this unacceptable, emphasizing that performers should remain true to the composition.
Ravel remained unmarried and had no children. He was very private about his personal life, leading to speculation about his relationships and orientation.
Ravel embraced various cultural influences, such as the Javanese gamelan and the music of Rimsky-Korsakov, which he discovered at the 1889 World’s Fair. His fascination with Spanish culture, jazz, and literature also fueled his musical creativity.
From 1933, Ravel showed symptoms of an unknown brain disease that affected his motor skills and language abilities, preventing him from composing further. He passed away on December 28, 1937, nine days after brain surgery.
A French programme with music by Debussy and Messiaen, and pianist Alexandre Tharaud performing Ravel’s two Pianoconcertos.
A French programme with music by Debussy and Messiaen, and pianist Alexandre Tharaud performing Ravel’s two Pianoconcertos.
Ravel’s biggest orchestra work Daphnis et Chloé, preceded by Liszt’s First Piano Concerto performed by George Li.
