Debussy vs Ravel

[Madiel]

I picked Ravel for the equal and opposite reason.

This poll is inclining me to do some genuine side-by-side comparison, across genres/timeframes. Which I suspect can only be a win-win for me because let's face it, they were both pretty awesome.

[Ken B]

Ravel wrote La Valse, so he gets my vote.

Must be a typo. This is a reason to vote for Debussy. La Mer is the reason to vote Ravel.

[Ken B]

But Ken is all wet about the composer of La Mer.

Hard to listen to that without getting at least a bit soggy. 

Actually I voted for Debussy. This isn't close in my opinion. Debussy's best music is for piano. Debussy or Bartok is a tough one, but not Debussy or Ravel.

[TheGSMoeller]

Hard to listen to that without getting at least a bit soggy. 

Actually I voted for Debussy. This isn't close in my opinion. Debussy's best music is for piano. Debussy or Bartok is a tough one, but not Debussy or Ravel.

Bartok for the win!!

Ill also add Ravel's piano concertos and a better string quartet for more reasons for my vote.

(runs away and hides)

[Ken B]

Bartok for the win!!

Ill also add Ravel's piano concertos and a better string quartet for more reasons for my vote.

(runs away and hides)

Which better string quartet are you adding? The one with the grosse fugue?

[Mirror Image]

Bartok for the win!!

Ill also add Ravel's piano concertos and a better string quartet for more reasons for my vote.

(runs away and hides)

Let's not discount Debussy here. While you may not enjoy his SQ as much as Ravel's, the man composed some extraordinary music. The Cello Sonata, Violin Sonata, and Sonata for Flute, Viola, & Harp alone put Debussy into the stratosphere of greats for me.

[TheGSMoeller]

Let's not discount Debussy here. While you may not enjoy his SQ as much as Ravel's, the man composed some extraordinary music. The Cello Sonata, Violin Sonata, and Sonata for Flute, Viola, & Harp alone put Debussy into the stratosphere of greats for me.

I'm not trying to bust on Debussy, I'm actually a huge fan of his Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien and Nocturnes.

My avatar now resembles me in this thread!

[Mirror Image]

I'm not trying to bust on Debussy, I'm actually a huge fan of his Le Martyre de Saint Sebastien and Nocturnes.

My avatar now resembles me in this thread!

Don't be scared! Come on we don't bite too hard around here.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Don't be scared! Come on we don't bite too hard around here.

So....we do bite then? 

[Mirror Image]

It seems that I voted correctly according to my own tastes in this poll. Ravel's chamber music, orchestral, song cycles, solo piano music, and operas have long cast their spell on me even when I thought for awhile that I did indeed prefer Debussy. But the reality is Ravel wrote music that I'm simply more attuned to and upon revisitation of the solo piano music, I'm realizing it more and more that while I do hold Debussy in high regard, I can't ignore what my heart and mind tells me.

[Christo]

Very different composers. I think Debussy is the more remarkable genius, but for actual listening I tend to favor Ravel. So I would vote for both, depending upon what's the real issue here.

#mywords

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

A third option?

https://www.youtube.com/v/KXqX98jdz78

https://www.youtube.com/v/foK8SyPqH54

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

It seems that I voted correctly according to my own tastes in this poll. Ravel's chamber music, orchestral, song cycles, solo piano music, and operas have long cast their spell on me even when I thought for awhile that I did indeed prefer Debussy. But the reality is Ravel wrote music that I'm simply more attuned to and upon revisitation of the solo piano music, I'm realizing it more and more that while I do hold Debussy in high regard, I can't ignore what my heart and mind tells me.

If you saw this poll and realised you voted for Debussy back then would you have said that you voted 'incorrectly?'

[Mirror Image]

If you saw this poll and realised you voted for Debussy back then would you have said that you voted 'incorrectly?'

Well sure, because my vote goes to Ravel and thankfully that's who I voted for initially.

[Cato]

A third option?

https://www.youtube.com/v/KXqX98jdz78

https://www.youtube.com/v/foK8SyPqH54

Lili Boulanger was recommended to me via the catalogue of a mail-order company in the 1970's called Records International.  Marvelous works!  And again, like Hans Rott, Ernst Chausson, and too many others, she died much too young!

The record I bought was of this work:

https://www.youtube.com/v/3BQgfSfMG4E

[Mirror Image]

A third option?

https://www.youtube.com/v/KXqX98jdz78

https://www.youtube.com/v/foK8SyPqH54

Lili Boulanger was recommended to me via the catalogue of a mail-order company in the 1970's called Records International.  Marvelous works!  And again, like Hans Rott, Ernst Chausson, and too many others, she died much too young!

The record I bought was of this work:

https://www.youtube.com/v/3BQgfSfMG4E

I've been raving about Boulanger for quite some time even before I joined GMG. Our Cato is correct, she died way too young. What she did leave behind, however, was some absolutely powerful, and gorgeous, works that have edged their way into my heart and I'm sure many others who have had the good fortune of discovering her music.

[Mirror Image]

As I mentioned to Rafael (ritter) in another thread, my mind was initially made up and I picked Ravel. Now, I just don't think I could do it and even if I was to level the playing field and pick just one, I would be doing a grave injustice to both composers and their music. These past few weeks I really have absorbed Debussy's music and explored, for me, some far corners of previously unknown territory (many of the solo piano works and all of the mélodies). To say this exploration didn't push Debussy into the stratosphere for me would be me telling the greatest of all lies. I always knew what a brilliant composer he was, but now I consider him a genius and someone who knew exactly what he was doing. So, to end this rambling, I'm going to have change my vote to the famous Karl option...

[Crudblud]

Apparently I voted for Ravel some time ago. Happy to report my opinion has not changed.

[aleazk]

Some years ago, it was Ravel. Until some months ago, Debussy. But now it's Ravel again.

[Jo498]

Debussy is probably the greater and more important composer but if I think about which pieces I tend to listen to, it is Ravel, although not by huge margin. I am not really familiar with their operas or mélodies and might slightly prefer the Preludes to most of Ravel's piano music. But Ravel's Trio and the piano concertos (esp. Left Hand) are greater favorites with me than any Debussy chamber or orchestral work.