Boléro

In 1928 the dancer Ida Rubinstein asked the French composer Maurice Ravel to compose a ballet score transcribed from Isaac Albéniz's set of piano pieces, Iberia. While working on the transcription, it came to Ravel's attention that there were copyright problems, so he decided to write a completely new piece in a Spanish dance style. The French composer considered the relentless 17-minute dance he came up with to be one of the greatest gambles he'd ever taken, but it's now recognized as his most famous musical composition.

The bolero is a 3/4 dance that originated in Spain in the late 18th century. Ravel's one-movement orchestral work was originally called Fandango, but as it had rhythmic similarities with the Spanish 3/4 dance form, he changed its name to Boléro.

Boléro was debuted at the Paris Opéra on November 22, 1928. The composition was deemed a sensational success and was acclaimed by a stamping, cheering audience.