tombeau

A tombeau (plural tombeaux) is a musical composition (earlier, in the early 16th century, a poem) commemorating the death of a notable individual. The term derives from the French word for "tomb" or "tombstone".

Le Tombeau de Couperin: Ravel's Tribute to Friends and Music. Nestled somewhere in Ravel's output there resides a curious set of piano pieces, entitled Le Tombeau de Couperin – literally, Couperin's Tomb.

Each movement is dedicated to a friend who died in the conflict, such dedication made explicit at the beginning of each movement: Prélude is dedicated to Jacques Charlot, who had transcribed Ravel's works for the piano; Fugue to Jean Cruppi; Forlane and Rigaudon are dedicated respectively to his friend lieutenant ...

In 1919 Maurice Ravel composed "Le Tombeau de Couperin” (“The Tomb of Couperin”), a commemorative suite for piano in six movements, in memory of six friends who died in World War I. He was inspired by the style of François Couperin, a French Baroque composer.

Neoclassical ballet Le Tombeau de Couperin (ballet)

In 1919 Maurice Ravel composed "Le Tombeau de Couperin” (“The Tomb of Couperin”), a commemorative suite for piano in six movements, in memory of six friends who died in World War I. He was inspired by the style of François Couperin, a French Baroque composer.

Ravel was among the first composers to recognise the potential of recording to bring their music to a wider public. From the 1920s, despite limited technique as a pianist or conductor, he took part in recordings of several of his works; others were made under his supervision.

Boléro Boléro is Ravel's most famous composition and one of the most frequently performed works of the 20th century.

François Couperin was a musical genius from a musical family. He is remembered largely for his harpsichord pieces and his treatise 'L'art de toucher le clavecin.

“Tombeau” means “memorial” or “tomb.” In 1919, Ravel composed a commemorative suite for piano in six movements (prelude, fugue, forlane, minuet, rigaudon, and toccato) in memory of six friends who died in World War I.

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) was a 20th century French composer. Ravel was one of the most complex of all composers. He was anti-Wagnerian, Impressionist and Neoclassicist all rolled into one. His Basque roots gave him a special affinity with Spanish colours and rhythms.

After leaving the conservatoire, Ravel found his own way as a composer, developing a style of great clarity and incorporating elements of modernism, baroque, neoclassicism and, in his later works, jazz.