Pick your three favorite Ravel Suites

[grandstaff]

Which of these suites by Ravel are your favorites? For me, I have to say Miroirs, Le Tombeau, and Ma Mere l'Oye. I know I'm probably in the minority by not picking Gaspard (a close fourth), but I've always found Le Gibet to be extremely tedious and boring, although I love Ondine.

Also, I know that Sonatine and 'A La Maniere de...' isn't technically a "suite", but I thought I would include them.

[patrickd]

I chose Miroirs, Gaspard, and Sonatine.

[philb]

Gaspard,  Le tombeau, Sonatine

Miroirs comes in 4th. If it wasn't for the Une Barque, it would come in third.

[grandstaff]

Gaspard,  Le tombeau, Sonatine

Miroirs comes in 4th. If it wasn't for the Une Barque, it would come in third.

Un Barque is beautiful, how can you not like it? (I'm playing it now.)

[austinarg]

Le tombeau, Gaspard, Miroirs, in that order.

[philb]

Un Barque is beautiful, how can you not like it? (I'm playing it now.)

It might be one of the most boring, repetitive things to come from Ravel's pen in my opinion.

If you enjoy it, more power to you. 

[grandstaff]

It might be one of the most boring, repetitive things to come from Ravel's pen in my opinion.

If you enjoy it, more power to you. 

That is precisely how I feel about Le Gibet from Gaspard (which is the reason why Gaspard isn't in my top three), so, even though I strongly disagree, I understand where you're coming from.

[nanabush]

Miroirs first, Gaspard second, and Tombeau third.

My favorites from each set:

(miroirs):
-Alborada del Gracioso, Vallee des Cloches.  There is something about the middle section that sounds borderline like a lamenting blues riff, but not quite there.  The minor-i to major-IV is so satisfying there!

(gaspard):
-All three... Ondine is perfect (probably my favorite piece by Ravel), le Gibet hits the nail on the head for the atmosphere it creates, and Scarbo is just a monster...

(tombeau):
-Forlane and Rigaudon.  B major combined with D# major reminds me of my reaction to medieval music when I was really young.  I get these chills, and then repeat that section over and over again.  I'd almost put the toccata up there, but it's obviously great, and the Rigaudon has these awesome melodic bits that suddenly allow the piece to fall into a major tonality when you expect minor.  Ahhhh Ravel!