Bolero Sheet Music/Score

A Bolero (Boléro) is actually a Spanish dance in 3/4 time thought to have originated in the 18th century. Maurice Ravel wrote the piece Bolero as a single movement orchestral piece based on the feel of the Bolero dance. Since its premier in 1928 Bolero has become Ravel's most famous piece, and was featured during the gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Winter Olympics of the British ice skaters Torvill and Dean.

Ravel himself was very critical of his composition, saying that the Bolero was merely "Orchestral tissue without music — of one very long, gradual crescendo". In essence the piece just features two different melodies, but manages to last over 15 minutes, as the orchestral accompaniment slowly builds up and the melody is played by various solo instruments, including the sopranino saxophone.

Level 3.5 of Bolero includes octaves in the right hand during the second part of the arrangement.