Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio is a work of extraordinary imagination and emotional depth. Composed just before he enlisted to serve in World War I, the trio reflects a mixture of nostalgia, vitality, and urgency. Though written for only three instruments, it creates a rich and colourful sound world that feels much larger—almost orchestral at times.

The first movement begins with a calm, flowing theme inspired by the rhythms of the Basque language spoken in Ravel’s native southwestern France. It has a graceful, almost pastoral quality. The second movement, titled Pantoum, is fast and unpredictable, full of sparkling rhythms and sudden changes—named after a form of Malaysian poetry that overlaps phrases in an unusual way. The third movement, a Passacaille or passacaglia, is slow and solemn. Built on a repeating pattern, it grows gradually in intensity, creating a sense of mounting emotion. The final movement bursts forth with energy and drive, as if the music is lifting off into flight.

This trio is one of Ravel’s most masterfully crafted works. It combines elegance with power, complexity with clarity. In just under half an hour, it manages to tell a story that feels both personal and universal—about memory, movement, and the resilience of beauty in the face of a changing world.