Three Favorite Debussy Orchestral Works

[Moonfish]

I picked:

'Le martyre de Saint Sébastien', 'Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune' and 'La mer'. 

[Lisztianwagner]

I vote for La Mer, Prelude a l'Apres-Midi d'un Faune and Iberia.

[Karl Henning]

If the items were listed otherwise, my votes would be:

Jeux
Images pour orchestre
Khamma

And an interesting, introductory blog post about the last.

[North Star]

If the items were listed otherwise, my votes would be:

Jeux
Images pour orchestre
Khamma

And an interesting, introductory blog post about the last.

I, too, was sorry to not see Khamma on the list.

[EigenUser]

Ugh, you guys ask for SO MUCH! jkjk... I probably should have included it, but I've never heard it before -- I've only heard of it. I know that Koechlin was the orchestrator for most of it (under the direction of Debussy, I believe). Probably a beautiful work, too.

'Jeux', I'm disappointed in you . Not surprised at the number of votes for "La Mer". Well-deserved, too, I suppose.

The only piece listed that I don't like very much is "Iberia". I don't know why, but that one never did much for me. I love "Gigues" and the "Rondes de Printemps", though.

[North Star]

Ugh, you guys ask for SO MUCH! jkjk... I probably should have included it, but I've never heard it before -- I've only heard of it. I know that Koechlin was the orchestrator for most of it (under the direction of Debussy, I believe). Probably a beautiful work, too.

Just for that I didn't vote for Jeux! 

[Mirror Image]

Okay, so I voted...

La Mer
Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
Danse sacrée et danse profane

[Ken B]

Nate joins the dark side!

"Not surprised at the number of votes for "La Mer". Well-deserved, too, I suppose.
...piece I don't like very much is "Iberia".

Repeat after me Nate, "And Faun gets kinda irritating after a while."

[ZauberdrachenNr.7]

I would have voted for La Mer three times if I could have.  If a monument could be erected to the Ten Greatest Classical Compositions Ever Composed it belongs there.  His mélodies get too short-shrifted, in my opinion, as that form often is.  And Yes, the Faune sometimes seems labored - you have to let yourself go a bit and realize that that is the kind of afternoon you might like! (also helps to read Mallarmé's orig. poem). 

The French have "un faible", a thing, for Spain, EigenUser; just curious if your dislike for Iberia might extend to other French works about Spain?  Eg: Ravel - "L'Espagne est ma seconde patrie musicale."

[North Star]

Nate joins the dark side!
Repeat after me Nate, "And Faun gets kinda irritating after a while."

Neveeeeeeerrrr!!!

[EigenUser]

Nate joins the dark side!
Repeat after me Nate, "And Faun gets kinda irritating after a while."

The faun is a beautiful piece, but it is sometimes a little bit dull. Too much flute and not enough of everything else (though, I guess that is the point)! I do love it, but it isn't my favorite Debussy.

It isn't just that "Iberia" isn't a favorite -- I actually dislike it somewhat. I mean, I don't find it awful or anything, but some of the melodies are kind of annoying. I strongly prefer Ravel's "Rapsodie Espagnol" -- now that's an awesome depiction of Spain!

Let me put it this way -- I love nearly all of his orchestral works (including the faun), but "Iberia" is significantly below everything else for me. I'd rather listen to the Ravel.

[71 dB]

For long I kind of ignored Debussy. I thought he was a wimp making lame music. Lately I have warmed up to his music. I have only 3 hours and 10 minutes of Debussy's music. I ripped it all on my computer, crossfed it in Audacity and loaded on my iPod. Now I can listen to Debussy while sitting in bus to and from my work. 

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune is my favorite Debussy of the 3 hours and 10 minutes I have.

[EigenUser]

For long I kind of ignored Debussy. I thought he was a wimp making lame music. Lately I have warmed up to his music. I have only 3 hours and 10 minutes of Debussy's music. I ripped it all on my computer, crossfed it in Audacity and loaded on my iPod. Now I can listen to Debussy while sitting in bus to and from my work. 

Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune is my favorite Debussy of the 3 hours and 10 minutes I have.

I've always preferred Ravel over Debussy, yet I love both. And I definitely prefer Ravel's piano music over Debussy's and I'm aware that I'm in the minority here.

[North Star]

I've always preferred Ravel over Debussy, yet I love both. And I definitely prefer Ravel's piano music over Debussy's and I'm aware that I'm in the minority here.

There is also the matter of quantity here, but I sure as hell don't want to choose the piano music of one of them over the other's.

[Ken B]

For long I kind of ignored Debussy.

A good start!




Sorry Nate, I couldn't resist. I must stop teasing you. (Ravelians suffer enough already). But Debussy is a great composer because of his piano music! It's his best stuff, followed by the chamber music. (You are right that his orchestral music is only at the Ravel level. 
Bad Ken! Bad!)

[EigenUser]

A good start!




Sorry Nate, I couldn't resist. I must stop teasing you. (Ravelians suffer enough already). But Debussy is a great composer because of his piano music! It's his best stuff, followed by the chamber music. (You are right that his orchestral music is only at the Ravel level. 
Bad Ken! Bad!)

Haha. I have no idea why I prefer the orchestral works. I tend to prefer orchestral works period (though I can appreciate good solo piano music, too), so that explains part of it.

I just thought of something. "Jeux" is actually winning! Divide the 14 votes "La Mer" by three and each movement gets 14/3 = 4.667 votes. "Jeux" is a single movement and it has 7 votes currently.

[North Star]

Haha. I have no idea why I prefer the orchestral works. I tend to prefer orchestral works period (though I can appreciate good solo piano music, too), so that explains part of it.

I just thought of something. "Jeux" is actually winning! Divide the 14 votes "La Mer" by three and each movement gets 14/3 = 4.667 votes. "Jeux" is a single movement and it has 7 votes currently.

Nate, do you realize how silly it is for you to tamper with the results and split pieces arbitrarily? In a Ravel poll, you'd probably split all the pieces in movements and act surprised when La Valse wins...

[EigenUser]

Nate, do you realize how silly it is for you to tamper with the results and split pieces arbitrarily? In a Ravel poll, you'd probably split all the pieces in movements and act surprised when La Valse wins...

[Mirror Image]

Good to see La Mer is still top of the heap. Yeah, it's just that good.

[San Antone]

Nuages

Jeux

Other: Khamma