Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy were the two main composers of the impressionist era of 20th century classical music. Impressionism was essentially the first movement to emerge from the 20th century style period. Its abandonment of traditionally logical chord progressions in favor of a more intuitive and free harmonic pattern influenced the bebop, cool and avant-garde jazz musicians of the 1950s and ’60s. Ravel became influenced himself by jazz and the blues, incorporating elements of these styles into his violin sonatas and piano concertos. His most famous impressionistic works include the ballet Daphnis et Chloe, the Spanish rhythms and melodies-influenced Rhapsodie Espagnole, and the ballet for orchestra, Bolero.