Debussy vs Ravel

[Jaakko Keskinen]

The great Impressionists (forgive me, Claude, for using that term)!

My vote is for Debussy.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Damn, that one time I forget to use the search-command.   

[Karl Henning]

Damn, that one time I forget to use the search-command.   

[Ken B]

Pistols at dawn?

[Mirror Image]

Ravel on the strength of his ballets, piano concertos, song cycles, Piano Trio, Violin Sonata, and L'enfant et les sortileges. I do admire Debussy a lot, though, and who, in my opinion, composed some of the most remarkable chamber music of the 20th Century.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Both are remarkable but very different; the only reason to lump Maurice together with the great Claude (who got my vote because of his greater originality) is that they lived at the same time. But Ken is all wet about the composer of La Mer.

[jochanaan]

This poll asks a truly "Unanswered Question."  Debussy is perhaps the more fiery genius; yet Ravel has greater technical ability and range...

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

EXCUSEZ-MOI?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE0fgkRrRhM

[Scion7]

Well, Debussy has made more of a mark on musical history than Ravel.
Ravel's stuff is very nice and I like all the instrumental pieces he wrote, and of course, his orchestration for R-K's Pictures.
But he didn't really tread "new" territory the way Debussy did.

[kishnevi]

From most composers I get ear fatigue after two or three CDs in a row. Some composers only one CD. Then I need to change to a different sonic universe.

A select group of composers do not affect me this way. I can pretty much listen to them all day long:. Beethoven Bach Mozart Haydn....Debussy as well, but not Ravel.

So I voted Debussy.

[The new erato]

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.

[Madiel]

But he didn't really tread "new" territory the way Debussy did.

So people say. But Ravel was actually quite annoyed about a couple of instances where Debussy received credit for something that Ravel had already done.

For instance, he publicly took issue with the critic Lalo, who peddled the line that Debussy was the one who had created a wholly original piano style, and pointed out that Jeux d'eau was written before Debussy's greatest piano pieces.

[Autumn Leaves]

Think this is a really close race - both have excellent Orchestral pieces, Chamber Music and Songs. I prefer Ravel's Opera to Debussy's. Ravel wrote some excellent Piano Music but I think Debussy's is of a higher standard overall and I do believe theres more of it than Ravel's?.
I am quite fond of Piano Music so for this Poll I would probably put Debussy as the winner just ahead of Ravel by the slightest of margins

[TheGSMoeller]

Ravel wrote La Valse, so he gets my vote.

[The new erato]

My definitely least favorite Ravel work.

[kishnevi]

Ravel wrote La Valse, so he gets my vote.

Your avatar just about sums up my feelings about La Valse and Bolero

[TheGSMoeller]

Your avatar just about sums up my feelings about La Valse and Bolero

Don't be frightened.  0:)

[Marc]

Ravel wrote La Valse, so he gets my vote.

Ditto.

[Sergeant Rock]

Ravel wrote La Valse, so he gets my vote.

If I were voting, that would be a major reason to pick Ravel. But I really can't choose between the two composers. I tried, I really tried, but I can't 

Sarge

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Ultimately I picked Debussy because I prefer his piano music to Ravel's.