It has been a long time since I last posted a video here so I thought now would be an appropriate moment. This is the Prelude to Le Tombeau de Couperin by Maurice Ravel. I’d like to thank my wonderful friend Crystal for encouraging me to “get on with it.” Actually she wanted to see my fingers fly so Crystal, I hope you enjoy this video. And the same to all my other readers too.
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a French composer who is perhaps best known for his orchestral work Bolero (it was featured in the 1979 movie 10 starring Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews, and Bo Derek. It was used for a lovemaking scene, *blush*) I’ve loved Ravel’s music since my days at the University of Arizona. Although his musical output wasn’t extensive (his complete piano works fill just two CD’s; his orchestral works three) nonetheless he wrote very captivating and original music. I remember my Orchestration professor telling me that Ravel ranks up in the top three of best classical orchestrators, the other two being Berlioz and Rimsky-Korsakov. So there you have it.
