The Spirit Is The Thing: Irmin Schmidt's Favourite Records | Page 8 of 14 | The Quietus

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

7. Debussy and Ravel’s string quartets

So, remaining in France, we come to Debussy and Ravel. I love string quartets, of course I could start with Haydn, but there is a special, wonderful charm about the Debussy string quartet and the Ravel too: they are always on one CD, and both are absolutely miracles. Miracles in melody and atmosphere. The string quartet is such a limited form – four people with string instruments – and still, I think it’s the most sublime art in Western music.

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