GMG's Top 10 Composers

mc ukrneal · January 20, 2011, 01:19:16 AM

I thought it might be interesting to see how our breakdown of the 'favorite 10' compared to the one being done at the New York Times. I included the same choices as they did, allowing for up to 10 votes by each member. I thought this could be fun and lead to some interesting discussion.

Florestan · January 20, 2011, 01:49:13 AM

Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Faure, Haydn, Mozart, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky

Luke · January 20, 2011, 02:18:52 AM

Put Janacek on the list or I take this to the highest authority

(Not voting till he is there, and I'm sure he's in many other top 10s too)

Luke · January 20, 2011, 02:28:43 AM

p.s. - I like 'Alan Berg'!!!

mc ukrneal · January 20, 2011, 02:34:10 AM

Quote from: Luke on January 20, 2011, 02:18:52 AM
Put Janacek on the list or I take this to the highest authority

(Not voting till he is there, and I'm sure he's in many other top 10s too)

Well, we could add people, but I was thinking it would be interesting to compare directly with the NYT version. We could have another poll later on where we add a few or subtract a few along the way. Alternatively, you could vote for just 9 here (or fewer).

Wanderer · January 20, 2011, 03:29:09 AM

I like the alphabetical listing; so, among the listed choices, for me it would be Beethoven, Berlioz, Brahms, Bruckner, Liszt, Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, Schumann and R. Strauss (left out Bartók, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and a number of others, listed and unlisted - more votes needed!).

PS. Who's Alan Berg? :-)

Brian · January 20, 2011, 03:37:33 AM

Alan Berg, and Anton Dvorak!

Once I ticked Bach, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and Shostakovich (imho the top 5), it started getting difficult. Brahms was an easy add, as were Dvorak and Schubert, but then it was merely my own taste which led me to Sibelius and Chopin as my final two. I feel bad about leaving out Berlioz.

I am rather ashamed that none of the 6 GMGers who voted before me included Shostakovich in their top 10.

Wanderer · January 20, 2011, 03:43:27 AM

Quote from: Brian on January 20, 2011, 03:37:33 AM
I am rather ashamed that none of the 6 GMGers who voted before me included Shostakovich in their top 10.

You should be.

The Diner · January 20, 2011, 03:51:09 AM

You could probably guess mine if you've been paying attention. I had trouble with the tenth one so I threw Sibelius a bone.

Sergeant Rock · January 20, 2011, 04:04:31 AM

Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Strauss, Wagner

Sarge

Cato · January 20, 2011, 04:22:59 AM

And how is it that Cato 0:) was apparently the first vote for Arnold Schoenberg?!

The Diner · January 20, 2011, 04:23:43 AM

Quote from: Cato on January 20, 2011, 04:22:59 AM
And how is it that Cato 0:) was apparently the first vote for Arnold Schoenberg?!

Because Cato has peculiar tastes?

Sergeant Rock · January 20, 2011, 04:30:41 AM

Quote from: Cato on January 20, 2011, 04:22:59 AM
And how is it that Cato 0:) was apparently the first vote for Arnold Schoenberg?!

I came very close to voting for him. It came down to Strauss vs Arnie...and my sentimental side won. Arnie takes eleventh place.

Sarge

mc ukrneal · January 20, 2011, 05:27:31 AM

Quote from: Wanderer on January 20, 2011, 03:29:09 AM
PS. Who's Alan Berg? :-)

Hah. I wish I could say that I did that on purpose to see if you were checking, but I knew I'd end up mis-spelling a couple! And then I went ahead and gave Dvorak a new name too! I think I will leave it though (that way you can hold it over me if you want

). Thankfully, you all knew who was meant.

Lethevich · January 20, 2011, 06:18:47 AM

Bartók, Bruckner, Debussy, Dvořák, Fauré, Haydn, Schoenberg, Schumann, Sibelius, Verdi.

That was surprisingly easy, the only big personal ommission for me was RVW.

Edit: I forgot Brahms? What? Ditch Fauré!

Brian · January 20, 2011, 06:35:14 AM

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on January 20, 2011, 04:30:41 AMIt came down to Strauss vs Arnie...and my sentimental side won. Arnie takes eleventh place.

Sarge

Strange that your "sentimental side" picked "Strauss" over "Arnie." One would think that your sentimental side would call Strauss "Richie" and Bruckner "Big Tony" rather than giving the eleventh guy a pet name! 0:)

Sergeant Rock · January 20, 2011, 06:47:36 AM

Quote from: Brian on January 20, 2011, 06:35:14 AM
Strange that your "sentimental side" picked "Strauss" over "Arnie." One would think that your sentimental side would call Strauss "Richie" and Bruckner "Big Tony" rather than giving the eleventh guy a pet name! 0:)

Cato · January 20, 2011, 06:51:05 AM

Quote from: mn dave on January 20, 2011, 04:23:43 AM
Because Cato has peculiar tastes?

Mrs. Cato will verify that, especially if I crank up any of my quarter-tone collection

in her presence! That usually does not happen, unless for some reason I want to suffer greatly! 0:)

MishaK · January 20, 2011, 06:58:03 AM

Bach
Beethoven
Berg
Brahms
Bruckner
Debussy
Ligeti
Mahler
Mozart
Wagner

Mirror Image · January 20, 2011, 06:58:56 AM

I voted for my three B's (Bruckner, Berg, Bartok), my three S's (Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Sibelius), Ravel, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, and Mahler.

GMG's Top 10 Composers

Who are your top 10 classical composers?

The Diner

The Diner

Mirror Image