Maurice Ravel

Born: March 7, 1875, his father was Swiss and his mother was of Basque descent.

Birthplace: Ciboure, France

Died: Dec. 28, 1937 in Paris after sufferring from aphasia.

French composer known for his craftsmanship in music. His full name is Maurice Joseph Ravel. Ravel is known for his stage and orchestral works, chamber and vocal music.

Influence: His father was very supportive of his talent for music. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire when he was 14. Gabriel Fauré taught him about composition.

Musical Work: Some of his famous works are: "Boléro", "Daphnis et Chloé", "Rapsodie espagnole", "Pavane pour une infante défunte", "L'Enfant et les and sortilèges".

Interesting Fact: Ravel served as a truck driver during World War 1. He was also very reclusive, he never married. Later on in his life, Oxford gave him an honorary degree of Doctor of Music.