Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): The Swiss Watchmaker

Precision and Poetry

Often paired with Debussy as "impressionist," Ravel differed fundamentally. Where Debussy dissolved, Ravel crystallized. His music combines classical clarity with harmonic innovation.

Spanish influence permeated his work: - "Rapsodie espagnole" (1908): Orchestral mastery evoking Iberia - "Boléro" (1928): Single melody over ostinato rhythm, orchestral crescendo - "L'Heure espagnole" (1911): Comic opera set in Toledo

Piano Masterpieces

Ravel's piano works demand transcendent technique: - "Jeux d'eau" (1901): Water music influencing Debussy - "Miroirs" (1905): Including "Alborada del gracioso" - "Gaspard de la nuit" (1908): Demonic difficulty illustrating prose poems - "Le Tombeau de Couperin" (1917): Baroque forms filtered through modern harmony

Orchestral Wizardry

Ravel's orchestration set new standards: - "Daphnis et Chloé" (1912): Ballet score of unprecedented orchestral luxury - "Ma Mère l'Oye" (1911): Fairy tales in sound - Orchestrations: Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" became showcase

Chamber Music

- String Quartet (1903): Classical form with impressionist harmony - Piano Trio (1914): Basque influences in first movement - Violin Sonata (1927): Blues influence in slow movement