Maurice Ravel

pour voix moyenne ou grave-The melodies of MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937) span the entire chronology of his creative output from his earliest song BALLADE DE LA REINE MORTE D`AIMER (1893) written during his student years at the Paris Conservatory to the cycle DON QUICHOTTE ÀDULCINÉE (1932-33) his last compositions in any genre. In his songs Ravel’s text settings display a meticulous attention to detail. Ravel´s melodies are elegant and refined classical in their phrase structure. In his treatment of rhythm Ravelfinds subtlety within traditional meters and dance forms-minuet waltz folk dances (especially Spanish dance) -also shape the rhythm in many of his songs.