Maurice Ravel

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a French composer of classical music most often associated with Impressionism (a term he rejected).
Ravel wrote works for full orchestra, piano solos and duets, stage and choral pieces, and completed two operas (with an additional three unfinished). He is most popularly known for his 1928 work Boléro, which has featured in a number of films, cartoons, and commercials including 10 (with Dudley Moore), Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon, Magnolia (with Julianne Moore), two episodes of The Simpsons, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey (hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson), and others. The piece is also commonly used for dance competitions on programs such as Dancing with the Stars and the Olympic Games.
==References==
* One of Gonzo's "Death Defying Acts of Culture" on The Muppet CD-ROM: Muppets Inside is titled, "Act II: Ravel's Bolero (And the way I perform it, Ravel was glad to get rid of it.)" During the mini-game, Gonzo plays Boléro on the harmonica.
* Zoe and seven chickens dance the "Seven Chickens Dance" on Sesame Street Episode 4209; the tune is based heavily on Ravel's Boléro.
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Category:Musical References