Czech Composers vs. Each Other

[mc ukrneal]

Which would you rather listen to?  One day of the complete works of Ravel and Webern or one month of the complete works of Telemann?  Quality > Quantity.

I agree  - which is why Telemann would win handily in such a poll - quality and quantity!!  ...runs for cover.... This might be a fun poll one day.

Looking at my collection, I already have more Telemann than Ravel, Webern, Janacek, and Berg combined! So I guess you know how I would vote...

[DavidW]

Well okay Telemann wrote a few good pieces, but he is no Webern!  The casual poster is wondering why I'm comparing Telemann and Webern...   Yeah didn't you know about Telemann's experimental 12 tone row stage...

[Brian]

I agree  - which is why Telemann would win handily in such a poll - quality and quantity!!  ...runs for cover.... This might be a fun poll one day.

Looking at my collection, I already have more Telemann than Ravel, Webern, Janacek, and Berg combined! So I guess you know how I would vote...

I have 0 works by Telemann, 0 works by Berg, 3 works by Webern, and about 25 works by Ravel. 

[mc ukrneal]

Well okay Telemann wrote a few good pieces, but he is no Webern!

See - common ground. Telemann was most definitely no Webern!! 

[DavidW]

Are you telling me Brian that you don't have Berg's famous Violin Concerto?  You know one of the greatest works of the 20th century?  The fusion of modernism, romanticism and baroque?  Yeah seriously how many works feature romantic bent lyricism, modern aesthetics and Bach quotations in equal measure?

[Brian]

Are you telling me Brian that you don't have Berg's famous Violin Concerto?  You know one of the greatest works of the 20th century?

Nope. I've heard it live twice and filed it in the "try again in ten years" cabinet. I've seen a film version of Wozzeck, though, and that was pretty freaking intense (in a good way).

[Scarpia]

Which would you rather listen to?  One day of the complete works of Ravel and Webern or one month of the complete works of Telemann?  Quality > Quantity.

Telemann.  Quality and Quantity.

[DavidW]

Telemann.  Quality and Quantity.

What you like Telemann?   But you hate Vivaldi, despite the fact that they both write in the same proto-galant style but Vivaldi is more consistently inspired?

[Scarpia]

Scarps, that's not cheating; the orchestrations are value added, without nullifying the piano originals.

I can't think of one that wasn't much better in it's original form on piano.  Tombeau de Couperin and the Pavane, in particular, are so much better in their original versions.

[Scarpia]

What you like Telemann?   But you hate Vivaldi, despite the fact that they both write in the same proto-galant style but Vivaldi is more consistently inspired?

I see no similarity between Vivaldi and Telemann.  Telemann's music has skillfully written imitative counterpoint.  I have never heard anything by Vivaldi that struck me as "inspired" in any way.  (Just my impression, obviously.)

[Brian]

I can't think of one that wasn't much better than its original form on piano.  Tombeau de Couperin and the Pavane, in particular, are so much better in their original versions.

How about Pictures at an Exhibition? 

At the risk of sounding hubristic, there are tweaks I'd make to the Ravel orchestration, but it is like a color film to Mussorgsky's black and white.

[Scarpia]

The purely orchestral works/ballets probably take up 3 CDs, plus the two operas, piano concertos - about 320 minutes there, plus the piano and chamber music, that's 9 hours sans songs and obscurities. Which is why it's so baffling that I'm having to wait so long for a Brilliant Classics Complete Ravel Edition.

I entirely forgot about those Operas.  They seem so obscure I assumed they were unlistenable.  I'll have to admit I have never heard them.

[Brian]

I entirely forgot about those Operas.  They seem so obscure I assumed they were unlistenable.  I'll have to admit I have never heard them.

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[Brahmsian]

I knew Janacek would garner some votes, but I fully expected Dvorak to run away with this one.   

[karlhenning]

I cannot really choose . . . but if I vote according to shelf space, then I'm "in the tank" with Martinů.

[Philoctetes]

I knew Janacek would garner some votes, but I fully expected Dvorak to run away with this one.   

Is it based on forum topics and the number of posts contained therein?

[Brahmsian]

Is it based on forum topics and the number of posts contained therein?

Nope, I just assumed in general that Dvorak was more loved than Janacek. 

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I cannot really choose . . . but if I vote according to shelf space, then I'm "in the tank" with Martinů.

Me too...he wins on "ear time" as well. The top 3 guys are monopolizing the vote! Maybe Gurn will show up and vote for Reicha.

[Scarpia]

Nope, I just assumed in general that Dvorak was more loved than Janacek.

In my first five years of listening to Classical Music Dvorak was a favorite.  At this point, I'd say the ratio of Janacek:Dvorak and Martinu:Dvorak listening is 50:1 and 100:1, respectively.  Part of that is that Janacek and Martinu still contain regions of unknown music.  But Janacek:Brahms and Martinu:Brahms are probably 2:1 and 4:1, despite the fact that I am as familiar with Brahms as with any composer.  But in all honesty, I haven't really explored much of Dvorak's Chamber music.  Perhaps my interest will revive if I do a little exploring in that direction.  (I recently got a box set of Dvorak Chamber Music, I should put it in front of the queue.)

[Gurn Blanston]

Reicha is getting gouged because not enough people know his music. Where's Fibich? And Benda and Vanhal...    I voted for Dvorak cause I like his looks; good, solid, conservative looking sort of person....