Joseph-Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937) was a Basque French composer and pianist of Impressionist and Expressionist music, known especially for the subtlety, richness and poignancy of his melodies and of his orchestral and instrumental textures and effects. Many of his piano music, chamber music, vocal music and orchestral music have become staples of the concert repertoire.   Wikipedia