Debussy vs Ravel

[North Star]

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.

Ravel's mélodies and operas are some of my favourite parts of his oeuvre, all of them. Debussy's songs and P&M are very good too of course. . .

[kyjo]

Ravel for me! I enjoy a lot of Debussy's music as well, particularly his early-to-mid-period works (his later works are a bit elusive and amorphous to me), but most of his music doesn't thrill me in the way Ravel's does. To me, there's a dark, dangerous edge to Ravel's music beneath all the surface glitter that I don't usually find in Debussy's music, beautiful as it is. Ravel's sophisticated use of orchestration, harmony, and rhythm all appeal to me greatly. There's no denying that Debussy was the more revolutionary and perhaps the greater composer, but I find Ravel's music more multifaceted and exciting. That said, there is one Debussy work I love just as much as my favorite Ravel works, perhaps even more - his String Quartet in G minor. In fact, I prefer it to Ravel's own work in the genre (though not by too much).

[Sammy]

I picked Ravel by a small margin, mainly because of my great affection for his string quartet.  Concerning the solo piano music, I'd give Debussy a slight edge.  I hardly ever listen to their orchestral music, so that didn't figure in my vote.

[Mirror Image]

Ravel for me! I enjoy a lot of Debussy's music as well, particularly his early-to-mid-period works (his later works are a bit elusive and amorphous to me), but most of his music doesn't thrill me in the way Ravel's does. To me, there's a dark, dangerous edge to Ravel's music beneath all the surface glitter that I don't usually find in Debussy's music, beautiful as it is. Ravel's sophisticated use of orchestration, harmony, and rhythm all appeal to me greatly. There's no denying that Debussy was the more revolutionary and perhaps the greater composer, but I find Ravel's music more multifaceted and exciting. That said, there is one Debussy work I love just as much as my favorite Ravel works, perhaps even more - his String Quartet in G minor. In fact, I prefer it to Ravel's own work in the genre (though not by too much).

Debussy's Jeux alone is well worth exploring and getting beyond the surface, because it's as dark and dangerous as anything by Ravel. Those late works from Debussy are truly captivating to me as are the late works of composers of so many other composers that I love. Works like the afore mentioned Jeux, but also Trois poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé and the Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp are true masterpieces of their respective genres. It's truly difficult for me to choose between Debussy and Ravel now because I have fallen head-over-hills in love with how visionary Debussy's music truly is and how there's this mystique to his music that keeps me glued to my speakers (or headphones) as I wait in anticipation on where the music is going, but Ravel's music has always meant a lot to me as well.