Who are your favorite composers (christians or non-atheists)?

[vandermolen]

Rubbra and Durufle are amongst my favourite Christian composers + Harold Truscott's Symphony, which has a Christian theme. My favourite Jewish composers are Bloch, Copland, Bernstein, Weinberg and David Diamond.

[MISHUGINA]

Mahler a christian? are you kidding me? Also I doubt Beethoven died a Christian since he pretty much shunned the Last Rites.

[Joe_Campbell]

Well, since speculation ultimately leads nowhere, isn't it just best to go with what the composer was last "classified" as, regardless of whether or not it was actually their core belief system?

[Dr. Dread]

I only listen to composers who waver between atheism and agnosticism.

[karlhenning]

I only listen to composers who waver between atheism and agnosticism.

But . . . I thought you listen to Henning . . . ?

[Dr. Dread]

But . . . I thought you listen to Henning . . . ?

There are always exceptions.  0:)

[vandermolen]

Favourite agnostic composer: Vaughan Williams (all that church music too!)

[karlhenning]

There are always exceptions.  0:)

My favorite use of the angelic smiley! 

[Dr. Dread]

Who would I be stuck with if I only listened to Taoist or Buddhist composers?

[david johnson]

Mahler a christian? are you kidding me? Also I doubt Beethoven died a Christian since he pretty much shunned the Last Rites.

he was a jew who converted to catholocism.
you do not know that?
i do not know the extent of his 'dedication' to the religion, but most folks count catholics as christian.

dj

[Bunny]

I don't have any favorite "Christian" composers.  I only have favorite music composers.

[The new erato]

I don't have any favorite "Christian" composers.  I only have favorite music composers.

You're definitely my favorite Bunny.

[arkiv]

Edvard Grieg was a unitarian.

[Bunny]

Edvard Grieg was a unitarian.

He was also a Gemini, but I can't see how that has anything to do with the music either! 

[ChamberNut]

I think Paul left (ie. Spitvalve). 

[Dr. Dread]

I think Paul left (ie. Spitvalve). 

Sometimes people who leave come back. 

[Herman]

Epicous, thank you for what you did in the China thread. (Sarcasm)

And re this particular thread. Wouldn't it be much easier to just tell us what your hang-up is about whether a composer is "christian" or not. I think pretty much everyone is rather puzzled.

[jwinter]

I gotta say, this is a remarkably stupid way to categorize and think about composers, even by GMG poll standards.  If you want to talk about composers who emphasize Christian themes in their works, or who wrote music for specific Christian purposes (masses & suchlike), that's one thing.  But whether or not and to what degree Mahler was a Christian or a Jew is a) ultimately unknowable, and b) has no bearing at all on how he composed, or on the relative merit of his work.  It's utterly irrelevant.  And I agree that the underlying racial attitudes that are implied by such analysis are extremely unhelpful.  

[ChamberNut]

I think Paul left (ie. Spitvalve). 

Oops, I mean't Springrite of course.

[Renfield]

May I say that I am perturbed by the number of GMG-ers these days who have racial hangups they want to air on this board?

May I second Herman, and resist the temptation to make an array of snide and/or ironic remarks?


It must be the Judeo-Taoist spirit in the air, holding me back; well, from the worst of them... 0:)