Ravel composed this Berceuse for a special Fauré number of the Revue musicale. He had remained on friendly terms with his former teacher and was thus delighted to contribute to the special celebratory supplement entitled Hommage à Gabriel Fauré (the other contributors were also Fauré pupils: Georges Enesco, Florent Schmitt, Louis Aubert, Charles Koechlin, Paul Ladmirault and Roger-Ducasse). The ‘name of Gabriel Fauré’ of Ravel’s title was a representation of his name in music: a legend at the head of Ravel’s score shows how ‘Gabriel Fauré’ was transformed into a melody based on the notes GABDBEE FAGDE. This short piece is marked to be played ‘Semplice’ and the theme is presented by a muted violin over piano chords.

Nigel Simeone