Schumann vs Mendelssohn

[Brahmsian]

Time for another silly poll! 

[karlhenning]

Gotta go with Schumann on this one.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Gotta go with Schumann on this one.

Me too. But Mendelssohn was important to me in my formative listening stage. For about 6 months he was my favorite composer. I'm still fond of him, even if I rarely listen nowadays.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Just to make this thread sizzle, we should invite Saul the Mendelssohn fanatic to contribute, and that guy at CMG who's always trying to prove that Schumann is the Greatest Composer Ever, Really (Jack Somebody-or-other).

[Wanderer]

Not fair. As much as l like Mendelssohn, Schumann is the clear choice.

Two perennial favourites among their not so often performed works: Schumann's Introduction & Allegro appassionato, op.92 and Mendelssohn's Meerestille und glückliche Fahrt Overture, Op.27.

[karlhenning]

Just to make this thread sizzle, we should invite Saul the Mendelssohn fanatic to contribute, and that guy at CMG who's always trying to prove that Schumann is the Greatest Composer Ever, Really (Jack Somebody-or-other).

Hah! (I did think of Jack Kelso when I saw this thread.)

[karlhenning]

Two perennial favourites among their not so often performed works: Schumann's Introduction & Allegro appassionato, op.92

I need to revisit that piece. I sure do love the Cello Concerto. (Especially in Shostakovich's orchestration ; )

[Brahmsian]

Is it fair to say that 20 years ago, the reverse would have been the case (Mendelssohn more reverred than Schumann)?  It seems in recent times that Mendelssohn has lost some steam, while Schumann's stock has soared?

[Scarpia]

Is it fair to say that 20 years ago, the reverse would have been the case (Mendelssohn more reverred than Schumann)?  It seems in recent times that Mendelssohn has lost some steam, while Schumann's stock has soared?

I can't imagine what would posses you to say that.

[Brahmsian]

I can't imagine what would posses you to say that.

It is simply an observation, and I did put it in a form of a question.  You don't see it that way?

[Wanderer]

I need to revisit that piece.

It would have made the beginning of a formidable second piano concerto, had Schumann composed the following movements as initially planned. Oh, well...  it's still good as it is. 

[Scarpia]

It is simply an observation, and I did put it in a form of a question.  You don't see it that way?

Schumann usurped Mendelssohn since 1990?  The popularity of fringe composers may wax and wane noticeably, an pop culture phenomena like the movie Amadeus or "10" can cause blips, but the suggestion that the fortunes of the "major" composers such as Bach, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Wagner, Verdi, etc, jump up and down over 20 year periods seems implausible. 

[karlhenning]

Schumann usurped Mendelssohn since 1990?

Maybe not quite so strong a verb, really.

How soon did the trend begin, of actually taking Schumann's orchestration on its own terms?  I could entertain the idea of a slight tilt from Mendelssohn being traditionally better-regarded as a symphonist, in Schumann's favor, as the idea is shed that, well, once you have a real orchestrator touch Schumann's scores up . . . .

[Philoctetes]

I haven't even had to really think about who to vote for in these polls. My favorite has always been clear.

[MN Dave]

Schumann easy.

[karlhenning]

I haven't even had to really think about who to vote for in these polls. My favorite has always been clear.

Well, and that is one of a number of interesting sorts of data points on these polls.

[Sergeant Rock]

Poor Mendelssohn Bartholdy...it will be a massacre. It's really unfair. I can't think of a single piece by him that I don't love (or at least enjoy) and yet Schumann gets my vote.

Sarge

[Scarpia]

Maybe not quite so strong a verb, really.

How soon did the trend begin, of actually taking Schumann's orchestration on its own terms?  I could entertain the idea of a slight tilt from Mendelssohn being traditionally better-regarded as a symphonist, in Schumann's favor, as the idea is shed that, well, once you have a real orchestrator touch Schumann's scores up . . . .

That would be Paul Paray, 1954, Mercury Living Presence?

[Scarpia]

Poor Mendelssohn Bartholdy...it will be a massacre. It's really unfair. I can't think of a single piece by him that I don't love and yet Schumann gets my vote.

I can.  Mendelssohn's early works bring a smile to my face, but as the years went on, his style seemed to get more and more crimped.   That last string quartet, which is supposed to be a homage to his dead sister, strikes me as the most emotionally stifled work I have ever heard.  It is just saturated with fussy figuration, and never anything that impresses me as an attempt to communicate deep feelings.  Next to that piece, Mozart sounds like Scriabin.

[Philoctetes]

Well, and that is one of a number of interesting sorts of data points on these polls.

For sure. It is difficult to make a good, competitive poll, that won't turn into a huge flame war, and some that I would find more difficult (like Vivaldi v Bach, I suspect most others would be able to vote with ease).