This was first written for piano for four hands and later scored for an orchestra. Two years later, Maurice completed his Rapsodie espagnole, which was his first major Spanish work. His next work was Nature Stories, which was five humorous songs that evoked the presence of five animals. Five piano pieces marked a harmonic evolution with one commentator describing it as intensely descriptive and pictorial. In 1905, Maurice Ravel’s piano composition entitled Miroirs (Mirrors) became a great success. In the 1890s, Ravel met Debussy whose music was very influential among young musicians. During his time at the Conservatoire, Maurice tried several times to win the prestigious Prix de Rome, but with no success. The members of the group often inspired each other through intellectual arguments and performances. This group met regularly until the beginning of the First World War. In 1900, Maurice joined a number of poets, young artists, musicians and critics referred to as Apaches (hooligans). In 1893, he created his earliest music composition and he was also introduced to Erik Satie, a pianist whose musical work had proved to be very influential. He was awarded first prize in a piano student competition in 1891. At first, he was a preparatory student, but later he became a piano major. Maurice’s parents encouraged him to pursue music and later sent him to the Conservatoire de Paris. Ricardo actually became the first interpreter of his piano music, and he served as an important link between Ravel and Spanish music. He was also able to meet Ricardo Vines and the two became best friends. In 1889, at the age of 14, he had his first public piano recital.Īlthough he was talented in piano, Maurice preferred composing.
When Maurice Ravel turned six, he started piano lessons and received his first instruction in harmony counterpart and composition with Charles-Rene. Three months after Maurice’s, the family moved to Paris where his father became an engineer. Some of his earliest memories include folk songs that his mother sang for him. Maurice was very close to his mother and her Basque-Spanish heritage had a very strong influence on his love for music. As a child, Maurice is said to have been very sensitive in every kind of music. He was also very interested in culture and music. Joseph loved taking his children to factories to see and learn from the latest mechanical devices. Some of Joseph’s inventions included the early internal combustion engine and a circus machine. His father, Joseph Ravel, was a Swiss inventor from French while his mother was of Basque descent and grew up in Madrid. Maurice Ravel was born on March 7, 1875, in France near Biarritz.
Today, Maurice is best known for his 1928 orchestral work entitled Bolero Early Life Most of the piano music, vocal music, chamber music and orchestral music that he composed has actually entered the standard concert repertoire. Together with Claude Debussy, Maurice is said to be one amongst the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music. He is best known for his great melodies, orchestral, and instrumental textures.