Composers who created only one masterpiece

[schweitzeralan]

Over the years I've listened to so many composers who have conceived musical titles at many levels of style,be they melodic, harmonic or rhythmic persuasions.  A colleague once told me that J.S. Bach wrote a masterpiece every week for church services. Amazing. No doubt, the perennially acknowledged masters; namely,  Bach, Mozart, Haydin, Chopin, et. al, have been recognized over the centuries as "major  maestros," as they have been shared publically and aesthetically by virtue of their symphonic, keyboard, choral,  revelations.

There have been  several composers whose works I have appreciated.  Yet I found that there were a few composers who  wrote perhaps only one work that was considered, at least by me, as quintessential master works.

I'm referring to the following: Gliere's  "3rd. Symphony"; E.J. Moeran's "Symphony in G Minor;  Arthur Farewell's "Mountains of the Gods Suite;" Joseph Marx's "Autumn Symphony," a magnificent musical experience.  Madetoja's 2nd Symphony,"to mention a few.

There are others, but I only come up within these for now.  Opinions will vary, to be sure, but I'm curious if there are those who agree or not.

[mc ukrneal]

I really think is subjective, after all, what makes a masterpiece a masterpiece? When I think of a masterpiece, Gliere doesn't really enter the equation for me. But if were to use Gliere's third symphony, well then I'd want to add the Red Poppy (or at least some parts of it), which is terribly underrated.

The only composer that comes to mind in the spirit of your question might be Orff (although even that is questionable).

[knight66]

Bizet's Carmen. I don't understand how a composer who crammed so many great melodies and masterful drama, otherwise fired near blanks.

He wrote other admired music, but nothing indispensable.

Mike

[mc ukrneal]

Bizet's Carmen. I don't understand how a composer who crammed so many great melodies and masterful drama, otherwise fired near blanks.

He wrote other admired music, but nothing indispensable.

Mike

Oh no! I cannot live without the L'arlesienne suite. Great music! Same with the famous duet from the Pearl Fishers. Such gorgeous beauty!

[knight66]

Those were the pieces I was thinking about; but I don't place them into the same class as Carmen. The duet from Pearl Fishers is a small part of a greater whole, the entire piece does not live up to that duet, though there is at least one other delightful aria. We should also be glad to hear the Symphony on C.

Mike

[Guido]

The only composer that comes to mind in the spirit of your question might be Orff (although even that is questionable).

I hope you're not referring to Carmina Burana - certainly not his greatest work.

And Moeran's cello concerto is a certainly a masterpiece, so he's not allowed.

My nomination would be Gershwin - though I very much like and even love some of the earlier scores, Porgy and Bess is by far the greatest thing he produced and is quite simply one of the finest operas ever written.

Tavener might be another - The Protecting Veil. Nothing else of his output seems up to this.

Ruggles probably too - Suntreader is an incredible work of searing intensity - everything else he wrote seems to be leading to or tailing off from this piece.

[mikkeljs]

There are probably some composers who lived only short enought to write one masterpiece or who simply stopped composing. I remember listening to a rennaisance opera, written by someone who stopped composing, because it only got second prize in a composition contest, but I don´t remember his name. Also the same story about...(someone Scott?)...writing only one symphony.

     

[False_Dmitry]

Bizet's Carmen. I don't understand how a composer who crammed so many great melodies and masterful drama, otherwise fired near blanks..

THE PEARL FISHERS?
L'ARLESIENNE?

I'd be very happy if I could fire "blanks" like this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o_Y3FALzyU&feature=related

[knight66]

I am certain that you would. I have not altered my opinion. I assume your idea of what constitutes a masterpiece is wider than mine. Carmen is head and shoulders better than the other pieces.

Mike

[Lethevich]

Surely Holst is the reigning champion of this discipline? (I hope this doesn't kindle an argument about whether it is "great" enough - I've seen several of those )

I love his music, but it's often wilfully evasive. He knew he was writing excellent music, but it feels like he self-consciously took a step back from composing in the manner that would allow for a success as great and musically far-reaching as his Planets suite. His later music is too "knowing". I suppose Grieg's PC could be included for the same reasons, but his Peer Gynt music - especially simply the suites alone - are too good to dismiss.

[knight66]

Much as I love Holst's Savitri, I cannot ask that it be adopted as a masterpiece.

Mike

[wppwah]

Abel Decaux's very forward-looking set of piano pieces, Clairs de lune. And don't bother disputing this, because it was the only thing he ever published.

[mc ukrneal]

Surely Holst is the reigning champion of this discipline? (I hope this doesn't kindle an argument about whether it is "great" enough - I've seen several of those )

I love his music, but it's often wilfully evasive. He knew he was writing excellent music, but it feels like he self-consciously took a step back from composing in the manner that would allow for a success as great and musically far-reaching as his Planets suite. His later music is too "knowing". I suppose Grieg's PC could be included for the same reasons, but his Peer Gynt music - especially simply the suites alone - are too good to dismiss.

Another oh no! I mean, the Military Suites for Band are awesome. They are desert island stuff for me.

[jhar26]

Max Bruch's violin concerto. It's possible that he created other works of similar quality, but I'm not aware of any. I like the Scottish Fantasy ok, but not as much as the violin concerto. And Cimarosa with his opera "Il Matrimonio Segreto." Maybe not a masterpiece of the stature of Mozart's best opera's, but nevertheless a very good effort.

[Brian]

Max Bruch's violin concerto. It's possible that he created other works of similar quality, but I'm not aware of any. I like the Scottish Fantasy ok, but not as much as the violin concerto. And Cimarosa with his opera "Il Matrimonio Segreto." Maybe not a masterpiece of the stature of Mozart's best opera's, but nevertheless a very good effort.

Max Bruch is a great choice. The First Concerto is great; the Second is nearly as emotive, but without the tunes; the Third is too long. The symphonies just stink.

I'd suggest Glazunov for his string quintet, but maybe that's because I just really like his string quintet.

[Brian]

My nomination would be Gershwin - though I very much like and even love some of the earlier scores, Porgy and Bess is by far the greatest thing he produced and is quite simply one of the finest operas ever written.

I'm not sure I'd side with you - after all I think it is possible for a composer to create two or three masterpieces (say, Concerto in F and American in Paris) and then create one more masterpiece that's leagues ahead of even those. e.g. Beethoven's 32 sonatas ... almost all masterpieces, but not, for that, all on the same level.

[BMW]

Max Bruch's violin concerto. It's possible that he created other works of similar quality, but I'm not aware of any.

Kol Nidrei!!

Except for the most obscure examples, I do not see many coming to a consensus about any composer's producing only one "masterpiece" (and I second Brian's thoughts -- a "greatest masterpiece" does not make other pieces any less masterful).

Now there may be plenty of people who will admit a personal preference for only one or two pieces by a particular composer...

[The Six]

Abel Decaux's very forward-looking set of piano pieces, Clairs de lune. And don't bother disputing this, because it was the only thing he ever published.

And it's a shame, because it's an amazing work.

[Octo_Russ]

I'd suggest Glazunov for his string quintet, but maybe that's because I just really like his string quintet.

What about Stenka Razin?, a great Symphonic Poem, one of the best things he ever did, if only all his Orchestral output was as good.

[Guido]

Once again we founder on the definition of master piece - we all have different standards for where the cut off comes.

I'm not sure how meaningful the term really is in the abstract without knowing anything about who is using the term.