Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) is widely considered one of most important composers of the early 20th century. His Pavane was written in 1899 and orchestrated in 1910. It was dedicated to the Princesses Edmond de Polignac, formerly Winnaretta Singer, who inherited the fortune that her father had accumulated from his sewing machine business. Pavane was first performed as an orchestral work in London in 1911 and still remains one of Ravel's most popular works today.