Maurice Ravel

Prélude - Berceuse - Habanera

The small, simple but harmonically enchanting Prélude dates from 1913. Ravel composed it at the request of the Paris Conservatoire as a practice piece for 'sight-reading'.

In September 1922, the Revue musicale published a special issue on the occasion of Gabriel Fauré's 77th birthday. Maurice Ravel expressed his appreciation for the jubilarian with the 'Berceuse sur le nom de Gabriel Fauré' for violin and piano. The theme of the Berceuse is derived from the letters of Gabriel Fauré's name.

Like Louis Vierne (1870-1937) with his Andantino and Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel also made his contribution to the 'Répertoire Moderne de Vocalises-Etudes' in 1907, which the singer, poet, music critic and singing teacher at the Paris Conservatoire Amédeée-Landély Hettich (1856-1937) published at the beginning of the 20th century. Hettich succeeded in attracting numerous renowned composers to contribute to his 'Repertoire Moderne', comprising 150 vocalises, introducing the genre of the vocalise as a veritable concert piece and making it extraordinarily popular in France. (Otto Depenheuer)