Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Sam Pittis 4am - 7am

    Sam Pittis

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (2) Franz Schubert Download 'Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (2)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (2) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Composers

    Ravel

    • Ravel Home
    • Music
    • Album reviews
    • Pictures
    • Guides
    • More Composers

    An inventive father

    This image appears in the gallery:
    Ravel: 15 facts about the great composer

    Joseph Ravel composer father

    2. An inventive father

    Ravel’s father Joseph was an inventor, responsible for a notorious ‘Whirlwind of Death’ circus machine. Joseph took his sons to factories to see the latest machinery and instilled in them a love of music.

    1. Image 1: Maurice Ravel composer
    2. Image 2: Joseph Ravel composer father
    3. Image 3: Erik Satie composer
    4. Image 4: Maurice Ravel
    5. Image 5: Gabriel Faure
    6. Image 6: Claude Debussy
    7. Image 7: Sheherezade
    8. Image 8: Mussorgsky Pictures Exhibition Ravel Kiev
    9. Image 9: Nijinsky Ravel
    10. Image 10: Velazquez 15 images

    See the full gallery: Ravel: 15 facts about the great composer

    Ravel features

    See more Ravel features

    What’s the story behind Ravel’s ‘Boléro’, and why is it so controversial?

    What’s the story behind Ravel’s ‘Boléro’, and why is it so controversial?

    Maurice Ravel is one of the greatest French composers who ever lived.

    The 10 best pieces of music by Ravel

    Hayato Sumino plays Bolero on two pianos.

    Viral virtuoso Hayato Sumino plays Boléro on two pianos

    Mozart and Elgar both loved their pets.

    8 classical composers who absolutely adored their pets

    Discover Music

    Harpist Catrin Finch and Debussy

    10 best pieces ever written for the harp

    Discover Music

    Ravel was the only composer of ‘Boléro’, court rules after six-year co-writer dispute

    Ravel was the only composer of ‘Boléro’, court rules after six-year co-writer dispute

    How Kris Bowers created ‘the Bridgerton sound’ – from hip-hop beats to Ravel inspiration

    How Kris Bowers created ‘the Bridgerton sound’ – from hip-hop beats to Ravel inspiration

    Discover Music

    When Torvill and Dean won gold with timeless ‘Boléro’ routine at 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics

    Remembering Torvill and Dean’s timeless ‘Boléro’ figure-skating routine at the 1984 Winter Olympics

    Latest on Classic FM

    French cellist Gautier Capuçon plays while suspended from a zipline in the French Alps.

    Gautier Capuçon plays cello while suspended on a zipline in the French Alps

    Gautier Capuçon

    This keyboard kitten is a fan of classical music

    10 calming pieces of classical music for your pet

    Discover Music

    Dan Walker and Charlotte Hawkins return to present Classic FM’s Pet Classics

    How to keep your pets safe this firework season, according to the RSPCA

    Ancient well hidden for centuries in Glasgow Cathedral crypt is being reawakened

    Ancient well hidden for centuries in Glasgow Cathedral crypt is being reawakened

    Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

    Uncovered 9th-century manuscript could contain earliest Western music notation

    Research finds singing together can help reduce stress in dementia patients

    Research finds singing together can help reduce stress in dementia patients

    Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi wrote his famous ‘Totoro’ theme in 20 minutes

    Composer Joe Hisaishi: ‘I wrote the Totoro theme in 20 minutes!’

    Hisaishi

    The spookiest pieces of classical music for Halloween.

    The 20 scariest pieces of classical music for Halloween

    Discover Music

    Who is Dave, and does he really play the harp?

    Who is Dave, and does he really play the harp?

    Trailer full of pianos is a write-off after spontaneously combusting in Oklahoma

    Trailer full of pianos is a write-off after spontaneously combusting in Oklahoma

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker
    • John Williams
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Quizzes
    • Leonard Bernstein
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Careers

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2025
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager