This piece is one of the movements from Miroirs (Mirrors), a suite for piano composed in 1905. Ravel later remarked on the work, stating that Miroirs represented a striking development in his law of harmony and that the collection surprised musicians who had been familiar with his earlier compositional style.
Ravel's fondness for Spain and his frequent use of Spanish themes in his compositions are well known. Among the five movements of Miroirs, Alborada del Gracioso is the only one given a Spanish title. Throughout the piece, Spanish-inspired rhythms and folk-like melodies appear frequently, creating an atmosphere rich in color and character.
In 1918, thirteen years after composing the original piano work, Ravel orchestrated Alborada del Gracioso. The result was so masterful that one might even imagine the piece had been conceived for orchestra from the outset. It stands as a superb example of the extraordinary skill that earned Ravel the reputation of a "master orchestrator."
This arrangement was commissioned by Sapporo Miyanomori Junior High School and completed in 2014. For the present recording and publication, the score has been revised and expanded, including updates to the instrumentation.