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Ravel

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Pavane pour une infante défunte

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

Velazquez

10. Pavane pour une infante défunte

The Pavane pour une infante defunte was written as a piano piece for Princesse Edmond de Polignac, whose father was Isaac Singer, the famous sewing machine manufacturer. Ravel was at pains to point out that, despite the title, the piece is not a funeral lament but ‘rather an evocation of the pavane that might have been danced by such a little princess as painted by Velazquez.’

  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

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Harpist Catrin Finch and Debussy

10 best pieces ever written for the harp

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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

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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

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The Phoenician Scheme: Wes Anderson’s ingenious use of Stravinsky and other classical music

New Wes Anderson film ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ is scored with Stravinsky’s music

Hundreds of musicians protest Cardiff University’s proposed music school closure

Cardiff University scraps plans to axe music department

The Piano Boat comes to Britain's canals

Floating piano boat named ‘Rachmaninov’ to return to London’s canals

Diana wins 'The Piano' with performance of 'Dreams' at Newcastle concert hall

87-year-old fulfils ‘lifelong dream’ of becoming a concert pianist in tear-jerking The Piano finale

Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman in 2009

Who were the Sherman Brothers, Hollywood’s most prolific musical duo?

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When Tom Cruise came on set, Simon Pegg and ‘The Final Reckoning’ cast had the Mission Impossible theme in their head

Simon Pegg: ‘We sang the Mission Impossible theme a lot in the cast. Whenever Tom walks on set!’

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UK’s only string instrument-making degree set to close

UK’s last surviving string instrument-making degree set to close

Curious baby boy playing toy piano at home

Does classical music really make babies smarter?

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Unseen footage reveals Dick van Dyke singing ‘Mary Poppins’ with THE Richard Sherman on piano

Unseen footage reveals Dick van Dyke singing ‘Mary Poppins’ with THE Richard Sherman on piano

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Austrian artist JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his song, "Wasted Love."

Austrian Eurovision winner JJ is a countertenor who sang with the Vienna Opera

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