Mendelssohn vs. Wagner

[karlhenning]

All we're supposed to do is try to make people happy: Not a bad musical manifesto, IMO

[karlhenning]

It is. There is just a whole lot more going on in Wagner harmonically, a lot more depth - in that regard he was the greatest thing to come along since JS Bach.

Right; so much more important than Beethoven in that regard.

[karlhenning]

On the other hand, whites are generally so full of self-hatred and guilt

Speak for yourself.

(Oh! You were.)

[ChamberNut]

Wow, who could have possibly predicted that a Mendelssohn vs. Wagner thread could have started such a heated flame war? 

[MN Dave]

Flame war? This is standard GMG activity. 

[ChamberNut]

Flame war? This is standard GMG activity. 

Your avatar is really cracking me up. 

[MN Dave]

Your avatar is really cracking me up. 

'Tis but the largest of rodents.

[karlhenning]

'Tis but the largest of rodents.

Oh, they said that of Wagner, too.

[jochanaan]

Mendelssohn.  He's less tiring to play!

[DavidW]

Wow, who could have possibly predicted that a Mendelssohn vs. Wagner thread could have started such a heated flame war? 

Actually this has happened several times over!  That's why I poked Dave for starting it.

[MN Dave]

He's always poking me. 

[ChamberNut]

He's always poking me. 

Maybe you and Dave should keep this to yourselves. 

[MN Dave]

Maybe you and Dave should keep this to yourselves. 

[DavidW]

He's always poking me. 

Poke.

[not edward]

Incidentally, I found a photograph of the real JdP:

[DavidW]

Eek!  Hide rodents!

[Valentino]

Winner gets Brünnhilde. For one night only. But what a night!

[Gurn Blanston]

It is. There is just a whole lot more going on in Wagner harmonically, a lot more depth - in that regard he was the greatest thing to come along since JS Bach. And of course, because of this he forever changed the course of music afterward - can't be argued.

What would have been really nice, extra special even, is if he had changed it for the better.... can't be argued.

[IlikeMahler]

Wagner is the greater genius, but I prefer Mendelssohn.

I see Wagner more as an influential inventor of new musical tools, than as a genius creator a great music.

[Superhorn]

  I enjoy Mendelssohn's music . It's elegantly crafted and melodious, but compared to composers such as Beethoven, Brahms,Tchaikovsky,Dvorak,
Schumann and other 19th century composers, it's a bit on the bland side.
  The comparison between him and Wagner is a bit unfair, because Wagner was almost entirely an opera composer (his non-operatic works are interesting but little-known), and Mendelssohn worked in virtually all forms. He wrote a couple of brief operas, but they're almost totally unknown.
  I have been a passionate Wagnerite since my teenage uyears about 40 years ago, and my love for his music has never wavered. Mendelssohn's music, fine as it is, pales by comparison .
  And Mendelssohn died rather young, before his 40th birthday. Who knows how he might have developed if he had lived to a ripe old age ?
  He might have produced works that are not at all bland.