Debussy and Ravel to break down prejudice!

A request to include Debussy and Ravel on this site led me to some soul searching. Why had I dismissed them both as composers whose music – for the most part – I didn’t like? How did I know I didn’t “like” them? –  if I only had two single pieces by Debusssy and NOTHING by Ravel. I had gone shopping for more Debussy in the past, but was never moved to buy anything more. All I knew by Ravel was Bolero. Everything further I listened to was a turn off.

(* Ravel on Bolero: He described it as trivial … “A piece for orchestra without music” !!!)

As I expanded my search I noticed that they were often included on the same albums; indicating an ‘affinity’ / connection. They were both referred to as “Impressionist Music” (a term that Debussy didn’t like)

So what did I find to break down my prejudices? (or re-inforce them in the case of Aoua!)

MY SINCERE APOLOGIES to lovers of Debussy and Ravel for this superficial and narrow view of their work.

First to Debussy : Claire de Lune.  This was one of the only two pieces I had by Debussy. We all love this one don’t we?!

clair-de-lune

 

Here was the other one I had in my library at the time of the request. Gamboling about those hills that are Alive with the Sound of music.

Reverie for oboe and orchestra

 

Is this a  partially succesfull attempt to pull at our heart strings? 

Debussy Valse Romantique

 

Now here’s Ravel: This piece almost broke my Ravel prejudice. Why almost? Because it sounds to me like a Rachmaninoff wannabe! They were exact contemporaries, and to my ear it’s Rachmaninoff on a bad day.

Pavane pour une infante defunte

 

And I like this piece too … BUT –  Ravel mentions St. Saens and Satie as influences and it sounds like he placed one cup of St. Saens and one and a half cups of Satie in a blender and just blended them up.

Piano concerto in G major / adagio assai

 

YUK! If I wanted to be seduced into a suicidal state, or clinical depression; or encouraged to pull my hair out … I would turn to Yoko Ono, or contemporary cutting edge heavy death-metal.

Aoua

---