Maurice Ravel Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

SonatinaMaurice Ravel51rank/position

Ravel / Sonatine, I. Moderato / pf. Takaya Sano

A solo piano work composed between 1903 and 1905.

Consisting of three movements, this piece was written for a composition competition; though modest in scale, it distills captivating melodies and delicate sonorities.

The first movement is marked by a lyrical melody.

The second features graceful, charming lines and includes a section that Ravel himself described as “a bow after the dance.” The third movement brims with lively passages.

While adhering to classical forms, it shines with Ravel’s characteristic finesse, making it a masterpiece.

Sonatina, Movement IIMaurice Ravel52rank/position

Ravel: Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de menuet

Maurice Ravel is a French composer famous for works such as Boléro and Pavane for a Dead Princess.

Composed in 1903, this piece is a piano work in three movements, with the second movement in particular renowned for its beauty.

The world of sound woven from elegant dance rhythms and Ravel’s distinctive impressionistic harmonies makes you feel as if you are dreaming.

With its meticulous structure and rich expressiveness, this work is recommended not only for classical music fans but also for anyone who wants to bask in an elegant atmosphere.

Ravel himself is said to have enjoyed performing it, and it is full of allure that leaves a deep impression on listeners’ hearts.

Sonatina, Movement II: Mouvement de MenuetMaurice Ravel53rank/position

Sonatine, M. 40: II. Mouvement de Menuet

Premiered in March 1906, Sonatine is one of Maurice Ravel’s works that distills his refined aesthetic sensibility.

The second movement, while borrowing the form of an old-fashioned minuet, is a memorable gem whose D-flat major sonority evokes the gentle sunlight of spring.

It was also used in George Balanchine’s ballet The Night Shadow, and though it suggests the steps of an elegant dance, it leaves a lingering trace of wistfulness.

The key to performance is to align the “grains” of sound beautifully and to value inner resonance over overt emotional display.

It may not be flashy, but for those who wish to savor the piano’s delicate timbres, it will be a lovely piece that deeply touches the heart.

Daphnis and ChloeMaurice Ravel54rank/position

Maurice Ravel: «Daphnis et Chloé». 2ème Suite, Simon Rattle

Premiered at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet in June 1912, this ballet score is a grand work set in the pastoral world of ancient Greece, portraying a young shepherd’s love and a hymn to nature.

With wordless chorus and an expanded orchestra, Ravel weaves sonorities that vividly depict dawn’s light, the murmuring forest, and the fervor of festivity—radiating to this day as a pinnacle of French Impressionism.

Suite No.

2, extracted from the work, has become a concert-hall staple beloved worldwide; notably, Charles Munch’s 1961 recording with the Boston Symphony Orchestra won a Grammy Award.

Interlacing pastoral tranquility with exuberant vitality, this masterpiece is highly recommended for anyone seeking solace in nature’s beauty and a simple tale of love.

TziganeMaurice Ravel55rank/position

Midori plays Ravel’s Tzigane

Alongside Debussy, Maurice Ravel—one of the leading composers of modern France—wrote Tzigane, a piece in the form of a czárdás consisting of a slow section called the Lassú and a fast section called the Friss.

The first four minutes or so are performed by solo violin alone, showcasing advanced techniques such as double stops and harmonics.

An evocative, Oriental-tinged principal theme is varied using a range of violin techniques, and the piece culminates in an even more brilliant atmosphere, building to a rousing finish.

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Don Quixote, who has set his heart on Princess DulcineaMaurice Ravel56rank/position

Alberto Gazale – RAVEL: Don Quichotte à Dulcinée (tre liriche su testi di P. Morand)

Composed in 1932–33.

A vocal work with orchestral accompaniment.

The poems are by Paul Morand.

It originated when a film production company making a movie titled Don Quixote commissioned songs for inclusion in the film.

However, the company had actually commissioned multiple composers, and in the end Ibert’s work was chosen, so Ravel’s pieces were not used in the film.

Nonetheless, they began to be performed as concert works and also in a version with piano accompaniment.

Vocalise in Habanera FormMaurice Ravel57rank/position

Ravel: Vocalise Etude en forme de habanera

A vocal piece by Ravel.

It prominently features the habanera rhythm, deeply influenced by Spain, creating a sensuous atmosphere.

Written in the “vocalise” style—sung on vowels alone—it has no lyrics, which all the more highlights the beauty of its melody.

Ravel’s delicate harmonies and smooth voice-leading captivate listeners and won’t let go.

Although composed for voice, it has been arranged for various instruments and is still widely performed today.

Combining exotic allure with technical intrigue, this song is well worth a listen.

Ballet music “Daphnis and Chloé” Suite No. 2Maurice Ravel58rank/position

Ravel – Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No. 2 — Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, 1985

Ballet music composed by the French composer Ravel.

It was written based on the pastoral novel Daphnis and Chloe by the ancient Greek writer Longus, dating from around the 2nd–3rd century.

The novel is set on the island of Lesbos and tells the story of the shepherd boy Daphnis and his beloved, Chloe.

Please enjoy Ravel’s fantastical and beautiful world!

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From the ballet music Ma mère l’Oye: 5. The Fairy GardenMaurice Ravel59rank/position

Ravel: Ma Mère l’Oye, 5. The Fairy Garden Pf. Mari Terada: Mari Terada

Maurice Ravel, one of France’s foremost composers, excelled at expressing in music the world of fairy tales that stirs childhood memories and the imagination.

In particular, his piano four-hands suite Ma mère l’Oye, composed between 1908 and 1910 and inspired by works such as Charles Perrault’s Tales of Mother Goose, is a characteristically delicate and richly colored creation.

The fifth movement, The Fairy Garden, is marked by a beautiful melody befitting the suite’s finale.

The sensuous timbre of the violin evokes the story’s climax, drawing listeners into a fairy-tale realm.

Suggestive of a scene from Sleeping Beauty, this movement radiates a brilliant, fantastical glow worthy of a finale, making it an ideal recommendation even for those new to Ravel’s music.

piano trioMaurice Ravel60rank/position

Ravel Piano Trio in A minor – Menuhin, Cassadó, Kentner

Composed in 1914, it consists of four distinctive movements.

The first movement, Modéré, evokes dance music from the Basque region, where the composer’s mother was from.

The second movement, Pantoum, is inspired by a Malaysian poetic form.

The third movement, Passacaille, opens with writing reminiscent of Baroque music.

In the fourth movement, Finale, orchestral effects are called for, and the parts for all three players are highly demanding.