Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole

On such a dreary, drizzling afternoon, I can’t help but get lost in a little of Maurice Ravel’s dreamy Rapsodie Espagnole. Ravel, one of my favorite French composers, wrote this little didy in 1907 and in so doing, successfully captured the essence of Spain from the foreigners perspective. Having a partly Swiss, partly Basque background, Ravel was always torn between his father’s pragmatic background and his mother’s more sensual side, ultimately reveling in the sensual – the reason he composed such incredible works in the Spanish idiom.

For those who are new to this piece, here it is – in two parts – for your enjoyment:

Part 1: Prélude à la Nuit and Malaguena

Part 2: Habanera and Feria