"Jeux d'eau"
The phrase "smiling at the tickling of the water, the river god..." is inspired by Henri de Régnier's "The Festival of Water."
While playing, imagining a river god tickled and laughing at the touch of water, I'm struck by how perfectly Ravel captures this image. It's an irresistible piece that truly tickles the senses.
Ravel is often described as a "magician of sound" and an "illusionist," and rightly so. His unparalleled skill in crafting compositions with such intricate and abundant harmonies is something I believe is unmatched by any other composer.