Born:
March 7, 1875, his father was Swiss and his mother was of Basque descent.
Birthplace:
Ciboure, France
Died:
Dec. 28, 1937 in Paris after sufferring from aphasia.
Also Known As:
French composer known for his craftsmanship in music. His full name was Maurice Joseph Ravel. He was a member of "Les Apaches," a creative group consisting of writers, poets, painters and musicians.
Type of Compositions:
Ravel is known for his stage and orchestral works, piano music, chamber and vocal music.
Influence:
His father was very supportive of his talent for music. He entered the Paris Conservatoire when he was 14. He studied composition with composer Gabriel Faure. He was also influenced by Russian and Javanese gamelan music as well as the works of Wagner.
Musical Work:
Some of his famous works are: "Jeux d'eau," "Miroirs,' Gaspard de la nuit,' "Le tombeau de Couperin," "Boléro", "Daphnis et Chloé", "Rapsodie espagnole", "Pavane pour une infante défunte" and "L'Enfant et les and sortilèges."
Interesting Facts:
Ravel served as a truck driver during World War 1. He was also very reclusive and never married. Later in life, Oxford gave him an honorary degree of Doctor of Music.
Related Video:
Listen to Maurice Ravel's "Bolero" courtesy of YouTube.