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Ravel recollects

As his life drew to a close, Ravel was burdened with a horrible fate: he began to lose his mind, and worse, also experienced moments of sanity in which the full significance of his impending lunacy became painfully clear. However, in the midst of his suffering, he enjoyed one final reprieve: the opportunity to write an essay titled "Recollections of My Lazy Childhood," in which he records for posterity the "influences that shaped his career, gave partial estimate of his own work, and voiced his own declaration of faith as an artist." Ravel's writing is elegant, his message inspiring--whether or not you compose yourself, you won't regret reading Ravel's "Souvenirs."

Thu, 16 Mar 2000 07:44:02 -0800