Maurice Ravel

1875 (Ciboure, France) – 1937 (Paris)

Fauré taught Ravel over fourteen years. He met Satie and Chabrier as a student — both influenced him. Fargue was a fellow-member of the self-styled ‘Apaches.’ Poulenc approached him as a possible teacher but was rebuffed; Delage and Vaughan-Williams were among his few students; Gershwin asked him for lessons, though when Ravel learned how much he earned, he jokingly suggested Gershwin teach him. Debussy and he knew and admired each other; De Falla and Stravinsky were among other composer friends; Strauss and Cocteau were correspondents. Colette, a close friend, called him “Ravelito.”

Maurice Ravel knew…