Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937),French composer born in Ciboure, Beasses-Pyrenees, studied at the Paris Conservatoire among his masters being Pessard, Gedalge and Faure he was refused the Prix de Rome but the indignation this provoked drew much attention to his work, and he made a great reputation and a comfortable living without ever holding an official musical post.

His genius is witty subtle and emotionally restrained, and he combines his deep-rooted classicism of form with the boldest experiments in harmony, especially notable and delightful are his rythmic figures. His most important works are the opera L'Heure espagnole, 1907, Daphnis et Chloe (Diaghilev's ballet), 1909, La Valse, the remarkable string quartet, the Trio, the violin and the cello Sonata many pianoforte works, including Jeux d'eau, the Sonatina, Miroirs, Gaspard de la nuit Le Tombeau de Couperin and the popular orchestral work Bolero. After the death of Debussy in 1918 Ravel was regarded as the most representative of French composers. But except for the ballet opera L'Enfant et les sortileges, 1924, and two piano concertos, 1931, he abandoned the larger forms and concentrated on small-scale works notable for finish of detail.