Maurice Ravel Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Children and MagicMaurice Ravel71rank/position

“L’ Enfant et les Sortilèges” Version Opera de Liege 2013

A one-act opera completed in 1924.

Incorporating ballet as well, it is a fantastical work that Ravel himself called a “lyric fantasy.” In 1914, when Jacques Rouché became director of the Paris Opera, he planned a fairy-tale ballet.

After the writer Colette finished the libretto, Rouché and Colette discussed whom to commission for the music; Rouché suggested Ravel, and Colette enthusiastically agreed, and so it was decided.

Piano Concerto for the Left HandMaurice Ravel72rank/position

Ravel: Piano concerto for the left hand | Hélène Tysman

Composed at the request of the Austrian pianist Paul Wittgenstein, who had lost his right arm in World War I.

It has since become an important part of the repertoire for pianists with limited use of their right hand, but it is also frequently performed by pianists without such limitations.

In the second section of the three-part work, music reminiscent of jazz appears.

The piece demands virtuoso technique from the soloist.

Introduction and AllegroMaurice Ravel73rank/position

Ravel: Introduction et Allegro, Elisa Netzer harp

Maurice Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro was composed in 1905 at the request of the Érard company.

Centered on the harp and scored with flute, clarinet, and string quartet, it unfolds a fantastical sound world that fully showcases the harp’s tonal beauty and technical allure.

In the introduction, it paints a scene as if opening the doors to a story, and in the allegro the harp displays delicate virtuosity while engaging in harmonious interplay with the other instruments.

Although intended to promote a new model of pedal harp, Ravel pushed the instrument’s possibilities to their limits and created a truly singular work.

Even listeners who do not usually listen to classical music are likely to be moved by the piece’s delicacy and rich expressiveness.

String Quartet in F Major, Second MovementMaurice Ravel74rank/position

Enso Quartet: Ravel String Quartet: II. Assez vif. Très rythme

Ravel, the French composer famous for works such as Daphnis et Chloé and Boléro, was a composer of Impressionist music, one of the classical music movements that emerged in early 20th-century France.

It was born from applying the new technique of “Impressionism,” widely used at the time by painters like Monet, Renoir, and Cézanne in the French art world, to the realm of music.

This piece makes a striking impression by beginning with pizzicato, a technique in which all four instruments pluck the strings, and as the piece unfolds, the mood shifts rapidly, conjuring up a variety of scenes in the listener’s mind.

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String Quartet in F majorMaurice Ravel75rank/position

Maurice Ravel: String Quartet in F major LIVE at Wigmore Hall

Completed in 1903.

It was dedicated to Gabriel Fauré, who was both Ravel’s teacher and friend.

Although it premiered in 1904, Debussy—another Impressionist composer—had published his own string quartet a decade earlier, and Ravel’s work was strongly conscious of that precedent.

String quartets were generally considered a difficult genre, one that composers typically avoided tackling in their youth, so Ravel’s decision to take it on at age 28 was exceptional.

It went on to be a great success, even earning praise from Debussy himself.

Song Cycle “Shéhérazade”Maurice Ravel76rank/position

Ravel: Shéhérazade ∙ Christiane Karg ∙ hr-Sinfonieorchester ∙ Stanisław Skrowaczewski

Ravel’s song cycle published in 1903 is a remarkable fusion of Eastern elements and Western music.

Comprised of three songs set to poems by Tristan Klingsor, it strongly reflects Orientalism and Impressionism.

It delicately portrays an exotic world: mystical Asian landscapes, the feelings of a girl listening to her lover’s flute, and the perspective of a woman gazing at an indifferent young man.

Ravel’s meticulous orchestration and richly colored music lead listeners into a fantastical Eastern realm.

It’s a highly recommended piece for those interested in foreign cultures or who enjoy finely nuanced emotional expression.

From the suite ‘Ma mère l’Oye’: No. 4, ‘Dialogue of Beauty and the Beast’Maurice Ravel77rank/position

From the suite 'Ma mère l'Oye': IV. Conversation of Beauty and the Beast / M. Ravel (piano four hands)

A piano duet inspired by the fairy tale “Beauty and the Beast,” this masterpiece weaves delicate beauty with grand drama.

The interplay between clarinet depicting Beauty and contrabassoon portraying the Beast is striking, creating a vivid sense of witnessing a conversation between the two.

Premiered in Paris in April 1910, it has also been used in ballet and visual media for its graceful melodies and rich narrative quality.

While it demands advanced technique and expressive nuance from the performers, its fairy-tale foundation lends it an approachable charm, making it a sparkling gem that stands out in concerts and recitals.

Highly recommended for those who want to savor the lush resonance of two pianos and the exhilarating tension of breathing in unison with a partner.