Book excerpt: Among the most popular composers of the twentieth century, Ravel is loved by audiences and assiduously studied by musicians and music scholars. His masterpiece La Valse ranks among his most performed works and offers a supreme example of his compositional mastery, innovative concepts, and consummate skill at orchestration. Ideal for study in the classroom, at home, or in the concert hall, this affordable new miniature-score edition offers music lovers, performers, and students an opportunity to study Ravel's popular work in an accessible, convenient format.