The twenty-seventh classical recording: #741 Maurice Ravel - Bolero
We recently listened to an episode of the podcast Radiolab that, in part, discussed this piece. It repeats the same melody, adding in more instruments and going up as the cycle progresses. The basic melody is familiar from elsewhere, but it starting at a simple point and repeatedly building up from there is what really makes it fascinating. Knowing that mental illness influenced the composer adds to the mystique of the piece, but the build up is fascinating regardless, as coloured as it is by what comes into it being played each time. The repetition really feels enhanced on each iteration, with the instruments bringing their own colour. Fascinating, if odd as a concept.