Customer Reviews

Ravel remembered

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If you want to know more about Ravel as a person, this collection of anecdotes from those who actually knew him is quite interesting and valuable (and available used at a great price). The book begins with a chronology of events in Ravel's life (and major world events along the way so the reader can coordinate where Ravel's life fits in). There are then fourteen chapters on various topics such as Ravel's youth, on composing, about various works, as a teacher, a performer, as a friend, and his last years. The stories sometimes seem to conflict so you have to take them for what they are worth.

There are also many very interesting photographs of those whose stories are included as well as those of the composer alone and with his contemporaries. Ravel was a very private man and this book can help us get to know him a bit. While his music really stands on its own apart from Ravel's biography (as does the music of all great composers), we always want to know more about the composer, performer, writer, and so forth. It really says more about us than the artist or the nature of art, but it is a constant and continuing desire of those of us who receive the art.

So, this book provides us with what we want to know and we find it fascinating. Enjoy!