Maurice Ravel was born in the Basque region of France in 1875. His father was Swiss by birth and won a prize for piano playing as a youth. Later he settled on a mechanical career. This might explain why some of his music seems to be inspired by the delight he found in clockworks and mechanical toys. Also as the son of a Swiss engineer, his musical craftsmanship was always superb. Ravel died in 1937. He composed a large body of work, also providing orchestrations for previous pieces. Of all his compositions, Bolero is doubtless the one best known.- Category ID : 25032
Background information and photograph of his birth home references his ongoing attachment to the town of Ciboure, where he later composed Bolero. Includes link to church where he was baptized.