Maurice Ravel (7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937) was a prominent French composer, pianist, and conductor, often associated with Impressionism, although he and his contemporary Claude Debussy rejected the term. Born in Ciboure, France, to a Swiss father and a Basque mother, Ravel grew up in a culturally rich environment that fostered his early musical talents. He entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 14, studying under Gabriel Fauré among others, and developed a distinctive style characterized by clarity, modernism, and a blend of baroque, neoclassicism, and jazz influences.

Ravel is best known for works like "Boléro" (1928), "Pavane pour une infante défunte" (1899), "Rapsodie espagnole" (1907), the ballet "Daphnis et Chloé" (1912), and the opera "L’Enfant et les sortilèges" (1925). His compositions are noted for their intricate orchestration and innovative use of musical form, often exploring the potential of repetition over development. Despite being a slow and meticulous composer, Ravel's works for piano, chamber music, and orchestral arrangements have become staples in the classical repertoire.

Ravel's career was marked by a scandal at the Paris Conservatoire, where his advanced compositions were not well received by the conservative establishment, leading to public protests and the eventual resignation of the Conservatoire's director. Throughout his life, Ravel maintained a fascination with Spanish culture and was influenced by a variety of musical traditions, including the exotic sounds of Javanese gamelan music.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Ravel was celebrated as France's greatest living composer. He was also one of the first composers to embrace the recording industry, participating in recordings of his works despite his limited skills as a pianist and conductor. Ravel's legacy endures through his masterful compositions and his influence on the development of 20th-century music.