Maurice Ravel broke new personal ground with his only piano trio, yet in a stroke of genius he created a work of the early 20th century that is outstanding in many respects and a key work of this genre. As one of his most rhythmically daring pieces, the four-movement trio fascinates with its asymmetrical rhythmic division and polymetrics, with Ravel possibly drawing on impressions from Stravinsky's "Sacre du Printemps". The second movement "Pantoum" refers to a form of poetic declamation in Malaysia, while the slow third movement is reminiscent of the Baroque passacaglia.

The main source on which this edition is based is the Durand edition published during Ravel's lifetime. Also taken into account are copies of the first edition from Ravel's circle in which corrections were entered. The edition contains a detailed Introduction (Ger/Eng/Fr) and a Critical Commentary (Eng).