Although he worked within the traditions of his day, Maurice Ravel forged a distinctive musical language of his own. This collection of 29 specially arranged pieces offers beginners the pleasure and satisfaction of playing the French composer's most popular works. Simplified arrangements include Musette, Menuet, Rigaudon, and Prélude from Le tombeau de Couperin; Pantomime, Interlude, Danse légère et gracieuse de Daphnis, and Lyceion Dance from Daphnis et Chloé; March, Little Tom Thumb, and Conversation of Beauty and the Beast from Mother Goose Suite; Malagueña and Prélude à la nuit from Rapsodie espagnole; and other selections. All pieces are available as downloadable MP3s (see inside the book for details). Composer, pianist, and conductor Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) is noted for his musical craftsmanship and perfection of form. A master of the art of instrumentation, he also enriched the piano repertoire with a series of classic works. His career highlights include collaborations with impresario Serge Diaghilev of the Ballets Russes and with French writer Colette, who acted as his librettist. Former Dover editor David Dutkanicz holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and Columbia University. He is the editor of several books in this series.