Extending their life by 20 years

[mc ukrneal]

I shall re-evaluate at my leisure, but also with pleasure! Can you recommend an album of the chamber works? I have heard the First Symphony on Carus (HIP).

The only full discs with chamber works are the two quartet discs on MDG. The third MDG disc is a mish-mosh with chamber, songs and piano mixed together. But the first two are string quartets. Actually, there are a lot of multi-composer discs that include a chamber work of Burgmuller, but I simply have not heard any of them.

[Mirror Image]

Skalkottas - is nobody on this board familiar with his work or appreciative of what he achieved?

What did he achieve, Dax? What separates him from the great masters of the 20th Century?

[Dax]

He achieved the composition of a number of remarkable works. He is one of the masters of the 20th century. Seriously!

[Mirror Image]

He achieved the composition of a number of remarkable works. He is one of the masters of the 20th century. Seriously!

You can't tell why you consider him one of the best composers of the 20th Century? No recommendations? No comments on his style and the evolution of this style?

[Mirror Image]

Lili Boulanger, like I mentioned in a similar-styled thread, is a good candidate. She died in her early 20s. She could have done so much more.

[ibanezmonster]

Besides my obvious answer of Mahler, I'd like to add Berg, for sure.

Except that I'd rather him keep on writing works in the same exact style of the 3 Pieces for Orchestra. Ridiculously complex and intense (the most complex works out of the Second Viennese School). Maybe he'd symphonies like this (which is probably want Mahler would end up sounding like, anyways).

The reason why I like the 3 Pieces so much better than his other stuff is because he combines both passion and complexity; the Chamber Concerto is complex, but passionate? The Violin Concerto passionate, but complex? I mean complexity in the sense of textures/counterpoint/density. Also, I prefer instrumental over vocal (such as opera).

This and Tchaikovsky's 6th: soundtrack to my life presently. 

[Mirror Image]

Besides my obvious answer of Mahler, I'd like to add Berg, for sure.

Except that I'd rather him keep on writing works in the same exact style of the 3 Pieces for Orchestra. Ridiculously complex and intense (the most complex works out of the Second Viennese School). Maybe he'd symphonies like this (which is probably want Mahler would end up sounding like, anyways).

The reason why I like the 3 Pieces so much better than his other stuff is because he combines both passion and complexity; the Chamber Concerto is complex, but passionate? The Violin Concerto passionate, but complex? I mean complexity in the sense of textures/counterpoint/density. Also, I prefer instrumental over vocal (such as opera).

This and Tchaikovsky's 6th: soundtrack to my life presently. 

Fully agree with your nomination of Berg. He undoubtedly would have produced more masterworks. I do like his works with vocals: Seven Early Songs is just tremendous. Wozzeck is just twisted, but I love it! Der Wein is beautiful in it's own strange and compelling way like so many of Berg's works are. Violin Concerto is a passionate work no doubt. Whether it's complex or not makes no difference to me, it's musical narrative is crystal clear. Haunting work. Chamber Concerto is a work I have yet to crack and I really just don't care much for it. Lulu Suite is a great work.

[Mirror Image]

I'm not sure if Szymanowski has been mentioned yet but he would have gone on to compose some phenomenal things.

[calyptorhynchus]

Oh, and William Hurlstone (1876-1900). He died when he was 24 but had already composed very impressive orchestral and chamber works in the Brahmsian tradition. There is no knowing where a talent like that would have gone.

[bumtz]

Lili Boulanger (1893-1918). I have her Psalms - striking!

Gideon Klein (1919-1945) also.

Both could have been major composers, such a shame. 

[Brahmsian]

Schubert.  Every time I listen to Schubert, I think this.  What if he had lived another 10 to 20 years.  His influence and impact on composers like Schumann and Mendelssohn would have been even greater (and especially, I think, Bruckner)

I think he would have held some Schubertiads in his home inviting Schumann and Mendelssohn. 

I could foresee the following:

Perhaps finally a grand concerto (for the viola, since he played it), or a cello or piano concerto.

And a fish series of quintets with varying instrument combinations (Salmon, Bass, Pike, Catfish) 

[Karl Henning]

Ray, some day, I shall write a Tilapia Quintet, and you will know why . . . .

[Mirror Image]

Adding just 10 more years onto Grieg's life would have given us a Piano Concerto No. 2 and a Violin Concerto and not to mention some other works.

[Brahmsian]

Ray, some day, I shall write a Tilapia Quintet, and you will know why . . . .

*Pounds the table!* 

[Dax]

You can't tell why you consider him one of the best composers of the 20th Century? No recommendations? No comments on his style and the evolution of this style?

Indeed I can. How much do you want?

Some years ago I posted this link on the Skalkottas thread - it's from a defunct forum.
http://ded.increpare.com/r3ok_rescued/20thCentury/T1935_0.htm

You can still access it. I wrote under a different name and examined quite a few works including the 4th string quartet, 32 piano pieces, orchestral works and so on. Since that time quite a bit has appeared on YouTube. There are several excellent Greek performances on BIS. For a quick and effective introduction to the more challenging areas, I'd recommend the brief concertinos involving oboe and trumpet - they're both on YouTube.

Those two works indicate the kind of difficulties encountered in playing the music. Many performances are simply too slow. Those that aren't can be pretty electrifying.

[Fafner]

Ernest Chausson, died at 44 in a bicycle accident.

I really like what little I have heard from him so far. It is a shame he did not leave more orchestral works.