I have had many music lovers tell me how much they enjoy Boléro only to disappoint them when I reveal how uninteresting it is for me to perform. I appreciate its theme and build-up, especially as interpreted by ice dancers Torvill and Dean, but the repetition involves little creativity in the musical performance. Neurologists have analyzed Boléro as a product of Ravel’s deteriorating brain condition. They believe the weakened left hemisphere of his brain played a part in the timbre prevalent composition. Timbre is handled by the right brain. His piano concerto for the left hand also has characteristics different from earlier compositions. But, who can say if this was an evolutionary development in Ravel’s music or a result of disease? A music researcher points out that his interest in mechanization could easily account for the repetitiveness of Boléro. (via Follow Me Here)