Magician of Sound

"This book offers an intriguing perspective on Ravel, one that places the composer in dialogue with cultural trends not previously explored. The detailed and engaging discussion of specific passages in Ravel's works frequently proves enchanting."--W. Anthony Sheppard, author of Revealing Masks: Exotic Influences and Ritualized Performance in Modernist Music Theater "A tremendously rich book, filled with extraordinary insights on Ravel's music and the intellectual climate in which it was created. Through the lenses of magic, machinery, science, and technology, we begin to appreciate Ravel's innovations from new perspectives."--Gurminder K. Bhogal, author of Details of Consequence: Ornament, Music, and Art in Paris and Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune