Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a French composer, pianist, and conductor. He is known for his musical style that combines elements of impressionism and neoclassicism. Many of his works, such as the Boléro and Rapsodie espagnole, are considered to be among the most influential of the 20th century. Ravel was born in the Basque town of Ciboure, France. His father, Pierre-Joseph Ravel, was a Swiss watchmaker and his mother, Marie, was Basque. Ravel was exposed to a wide range of music from a young age, including that of his Basque ancestors and popular music of the time. He began studying the piano at the age of seven and quickly showed an extraordinary talent for music. He entered the Conservatoire de Paris at the age of 14, where he studied under teachers such as Gabriel Fauré and André Gedalge. He won the Prix de Rome in 1901, which allowed him to study in Italy for a year. Upon returning to Paris, he began to establish himself as a composer, with works such as the piano piece Jeux d'eau and the song cycle Shéhérazade. Ravel's most famous works include the orchestral works Boléro and Daphnis et Chloé, and the piano pieces Pavane pour une infante défunte and Le Tombeau de Couperin. He also wrote several film scores, including for the 1931 film Un dimanche à la campagne. Ravel died in 1937 at the age of 62, after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage.

Maurice Ravel - Pavane Pour Une Infante Defunte (Angel Ace 2011 Rework) Extract :