M. Ravel – Pavane pour une infante défunte, M19 (1899)
 
Composed when he was only 24 and still studying and the conservatory of Paris, Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a dead princess) is a gem of late ‘800 French taste, full of magic, evocation, introspection, and melancholic gentleness. Ravel dedicated the piece to his patron, the Princess of Polignac, though the title was meant to evocate “a pavane that a little princess might, in former times, have danced at the Spanish court". The nostalgic elegance of the music captures the essence of a bygone era, reflecting Ravel's fascination with ancient Spanish music and dance forms. With this inspiration in mind, the music unfolds with a graceful, simple, mournful melody, accompanied by an intriguing harmonic framework, rich of ninth and thirteenth chords and dissonances, which provide structure, richness, and character to the main melody.