Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy continue to be my inspiration. He and Debussy are both marvelous examples of individualism. Their refusal to conform to the musical traditions of their time, and fold under the ridicule of their peers and teachers, still inspire musicians and composers alike to seek their own individuality. Ravel’s friends and colleagues would argue over which he was worse at: playing the piano or conducting. Though Ravel was a capable pianist, he himself was not a great pianist or a virtuoso. Nonetheless, pianists still are in awe at the way Ravel’s writing for piano fits their hands perfectly. Not only that, despite the critique of his lack of virtuosity from friends and colleagues, the majority of his piano works are difficult and demand virtuosity. Ravel may not have been a skilled conductor, yet he is held in high regard as a master of orchestration. Ravel once lamented that he was not one of the greats. He stated that the greats produced enormously, and that both good and bad were among their productions. Nonetheless, he stated they still had quantity - something he lamented. Although Ravel’s catalog of works do not measure up to the likes of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. One can easily say that all of Ravel’s works are known and still performed to this day. Not one composition is bad, and all are intricately written, and are gems of perfection. Ravel is indeed a lesson in quality over quantity.

Ravel is my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE composer, of all time! "Ondine" is chillingly beautiful!

Ravel is my favourite composer. His harmonic language is so tasty.

At that time several composers won the 'Prix de Rome' but their names died, but Ravel never won that price because of the conservativ people of the Paris conservatoir. Later on they saw their mistake and wanted to give him that prise after all, but Ravel refused it. Great!

Ravel's music is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. I definitely think that Jeux D'eau and Ondine definitely explore the most tonal colors of piano music while not sacrificing a fabulous melody.

Boléro is simply unmatched by anyone to this day. I have probably a dozen renditions of it, and I feel like I'm still always finding new things in its hypnotic repetitions.

Very nice video - thank you. Ravel is one of my absolute favorite composers - no doubt in the top 5, possibly top 3. Genius!

Thank you so much...your presentations are a great delight!

I was looking for this . Thank you so much

Beautifully done! Thank you for your musical insights. Sincerely.

Great video, man! I'm new to classical music, but glad I've found your channel to binge-hear. Cheers, man! 🍻🍻

I introduced the kids to his Bolero today - and so now, as I found this one, this is a good follow-up! Of course, thanks, as always!

Thank you for posting this. Everything Ravel composed is gold in my opinion. I often listen to his piano works when I'm hiking. Great choice of background music.

i just found your videos!, and they are so good, new subscriber over here!

Very much enjoy your deep dives into composers

I'm so happy! This just made my day!!! Thank you so much😃😃

An quite interesting person, I often forget the person behind the work. (I'm probably just way too focus with my and others work that I often forget). I'm really calm that you remind me about it.

good job man! great videos

Love love Ravel ❤️love singing his art songs so so much 🙌 he and Debussy both discovered the gamelan 🌷so happy you talked about all of the amazing composers and musicians

"Gaspard de la Nuit" was one of the most difficult pieces I ever had to learn. (I think that the "Scarbo" movement gave me temperomandibular joint dysfunction for a while...lol). Also, it was a joy to hear "Gaspard" as the background music in your video. By the way, much of Sorabji's piano music blows the challenges of "Scarbo" right out of the water. Scarbo is not the most difficult piano piece although it IS very very challenging.

Wonderful biography! Why are so many of my heroes in music expelled or rejected from the prestigious academies/conservatories of the times?

The late Ken Sasaki (dec. 1991) did the most amazing performance of Gaspards de la Nuit. Unfortunately, this brilliant pianist has fallen into obscurity and there are virtually no recordings of him.

Wow i actually thought that the orchestrated version of PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION was the original and the piano version came after - that's incredible.

Wow, nice video and explanation! Could you do one about Frederic Mompou?

Tomorrow will begin our rehearsal with Ravels concert in G major and D major. Folirst time to play these pieces 😏

Look into the impact on the development of the modern orchestral harp by Ravel and Debussy. Both were at the turning point for the instrument we know today. Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro as well as the odd piece he wrote later for harp, viola and flute changed the instrument forever. Debussy’s Danses sacred et profane was written for the chromatic cross strung harp. At that very moment in time, we decided which direction the instrument should go forward. Ravel wins that one.

Fun fact: the theme to the original 1986 Zelda game for the NES was inspired by Bolero, it wasn’t even in the public domain yet so Koji Kondo had to write a piece in the same style and tempo.

Great!

In my opinion, Bolero is about decay. His brain was decaying and one effect of that is desire to repeat things. And the repetition of Bolero is a culmination of that repition

You are very knowledgeable...I hope you enjoy playing an instrument too.

Wow I love your videos, do you have a podcast? You should start one if you do not have one.

Debussy is my favorite composer, closely followed by Ravel and then Ligeti.

The backround music was from Ravel, Gaspard de la nuit.

I love your channel so so, so much that I somehow strangely feel entitled to beg you not to feel obliged to call French institutions by their proper names. Please forgive me for my bluntness, I just couldn't keep myself from being vocal about it. Your channel is about the only thing I've been watching for days now, thank you for the amazing work!

I'm surprised you didn't make any videos on Chopin. Oh and can you make a video about Frederic Chopin?

It would be great if you had to pictures for visual learners

Why did you change the font for the title and thumbnail 😭😂? I really like the old one

You should add some photos/video clips into your video.

I watch comedians - who I like - and sometimes laugh less than I laugh during your videos.

Could you do a video on korsikov?

Ok, here ya go... you seem to know all the 'details' of 'inside' stories, there is a youtube of London Symphony Orchestra performing Ravel's Bolero - and the conductor, Valery Gergiev is unshaven and conducts with a toothpick. Is there an 'inside' story to that unique presentation?

3:20

Do you think he used twelve tone scale that schoenberg invented?

If Hollywood make movie for Moris Ravel omg

it's so fast ncsndjnd maybe its because im not a native english speaker

Who did ravel influence?

What is the outro music?

Oh dear. Well, thank you for all this, but, "Le Tombeau de Couperin" is anything but "surprisingly jovial." Listen to it in twenty years.

Could you do Ginastera

Where are your sources?

Gifted people need no schooling it is a Gift

You forgot to mention he was jewish