ŒñMiroirsŒî Œ_ Ravel dedicated each of these five piano pieces to a member of the Parisian artistic circle ŒñLes ApachesŒî. Ravel also belonged to this circle of poets, painters and musicians, giving first performances ofmany of his works at gatherings of this illustrious group. In ŒñMiroirsŒî he went a step further than in ŒñJeux dŒÍeauŒî. The music was to sound as if it came from a sketchbook. The bold harmony irritated his contemporaries at first but pointed the way ahead for RavelŒÍs subsequent works. This famous cycle Œ_ it also contains the well-known ŒñAlborada del graciosoŒîŒ_ is now available in Henle Urtext in a particularly clear and larger f ormat with an extensive commentary.
