Greetings. I'll have a lot more to say about the fascinating Maurice Ravel in the future, but we probably need to start with "Bolero" as a foundation.

Considered to be an experiment by the composer himself, he once described it (somewhat tongue-in-cheek we expect) as "orchestral tissue without music". It was apparently inspired partly by his reflections on the machine age, and is certainly the work with which he is most often associated (though it is by far not his only significant work overall).

There are many interesting facets to the creation of Bolero, and it's reported that upon its premiere performance in Paris on 20 November 1928, a woman was heard screaming, "Au fou, au fou!" ("The madman! The madman!"). When Ravel was told of this, he reportedly replied, "That lady… she understood."

I find it fascinating to explore Bolero visually as well as purely musically. To wit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRE1y5uxOM

Best, -L