The Other Best Classical Period Composers?

[Grazioso]

Setting aside Haydn and Mozart, and also transitional Pre-/Early Romantics like LvB, Hummel, Ries, Kalliwoda, Onslow, et al., who are some Classical Period composers most worthy of investigating? Descriptions of their styles and recommendations for specific discs would be appreciated.

The ones that have stood out most for me are Boccherini, JC and CPE Bach, Vanhal, Rosetti, and Kraus.

Anyone interested in exploring Boccherini couldn't go wrong with Europa Galante chamber music discs on Virgin, the symphony box set on CPO, or the Bylsma box of assorted works from Sony. For JC Bach, any of the boxed sets on CPO. For CPE Bach, there's a fine twofer from Virgin with symphonies and cello concerti; a box set from Capriccio covers much more of his work but it's not all HIP. Vanhal: symphony discs from the London Mozart Players or Concerto Koeln. Rosetti: ditto, plus some nice un-HIP discs from Arte Nova; CPO has released a number of Rosetti wind and chamber works which I haven't heard yet. For Kraus, check out the pioneering Naxos series of his symphonies.

[mc ukrneal]

Setting aside Haydn and Mozart, and also transitional Pre-/Early Romantics like LvB, Hummel, Ries, Kalliwoda, Onslow, et al., who are some Classical Period composers most worthy of investigating? Descriptions of their styles and recommendations for specific discs would be appreciated.

The ones that have stood out most for me are Boccherini, JC and CPE Bach, Vanhal, Rosetti, and Kraus.

Anyone interested in exploring Boccherini couldn't go wrong with Europa Galante chamber music discs on Virgin, the symphony box set on CPO, or the Bylsma box of assorted works from Sony. For JC Bach, any of the boxed sets on CPO. For CPE Bach, there's a fine twofer from Virgin with symphonies and cello concerti; a box set from Capriccio covers much more of his work but it's not all HIP. Vanhal: symphony discs from the London Mozart Players or Concerto Koeln. Rosetti: ditto, plus some nice un-HIP discs from Arte Nova; CPO has released a number of Rosetti wind and chamber works which I haven't heard yet. For Kraus, check out the pioneering Naxos series of his symphonies.

I posted this on Gurn's thread a month or so ago. You (and others) may find it useful.

I am not quite as focussed on the classical period as some here, but my first love is the symphony, so I think I can help. First, there is the Contemporaries of Mozart series on Chandos. THis includes Stamitz. But there is also Pleyel, Gyrowetz, Bauger, Hoffmeister, Kozeluch, Krommer, Marsh, Myslivicek, Pichl, Richter, Rosetti, Vanhal, Wesley, Wranitsky (aka Vranicky), and Vogler. Not sure I covered every single release, but they are a great place to start. If you like any of them, there are often other discs to explore (for example, Vanhal has others on Naxos, Das Alte Werk, etc.). I have yet to find a stinker in the series - none are less than interesting (though tastes may vary). Some can be found in cheaper packs, like this:
[asin]B003TLRKAK[/asin]

Personally, I would hightly recommend the following Franz Xaver Richter discs (they are outstanding in every way, and this is the same Richter as above):
[asin]B000REGIXM[/asin]
[asin]B0020LSWWA[/asin]

I can only agree with some of those you mentioned. I enjoyed Michael Haydn on CPO tremendously as well as that Rigel disc. I like Kraus as well, though perhaps not as much as some of the others.

Another Myslivecek I love is this one:
[asin]B000JFZ9FC[/asin]

There are more, but I already feel like I may have overwhelmed you with names. I would start with the Richter Naxos discs myself, followed by something from those who are recorded a bit more often like Myslivecek, Vanhal, Pleyel, etc.

[some guy]

who are some Classical Period composers most worthy of investigating?

Gluck

Descriptions of their styles

dramatic

recommendations for specific discs

all

[springrite]

Of all the period, the Classical Period is probably the only one in which I have little interest to explore beyond the usual suspects, and in this case, the top three.

But if I have to name one other composer, I'd probably say Krommer.

[mszczuj]

I suppose Michael Haydn is probably one of the best composers of 18th century. I have heard some of his symphonies (probably about 30) and was absolutely impressed.

[DavidW]

Don't we already have a thread for this?   Gurn's thread seems to only discuss esoteric classical.  Why do we need another thread?

[springrite]

I suppose Michael Haydn is probably one of the best composers of 18th century. I have heard some of his symphonies (probably about 30) and was absolutely impressed.

I once contributed this clue to a crossword puzzle:

"Uncle of the Symphony"

The answer is, of course, Michael Haydn 

[Grazioso]

Don't we already have a thread for this?   Gurn's thread seems to only discuss esoteric classical.  Why do we need another thread?

You may only discuss Bach in one thread 

I suppose Michael Haydn is probably one of the best composers of 18th century. I have heard some of his symphonies (probably about 30) and was absolutely impressed.

I actually have a 6-disc set of his symphonies but have only gotten to hear two, so I haven't really gotten a useful impression yet. Amends to-hear list...

I posted this on Gurn's thread a month or so ago. You (and others) may find it useful.

I've been eyeing that Chandos box. Fwiw, some of those composers are also represented in this set:

[Josquin des Prez]

Gluck

This.

[kishnevi]

This.

I wasn't aware that Gluck was a roshi. 

Seriously, you're either being too concise or the victim of a missing hyperlink.

[eyeresist]

Keep piling on the suggestions. My wishlist is happy to be fed! Good bargain sets especially. BTW, I have some of those Virgin Veritas doubles (Haydn, CPE Bach) and they really are terrific value.

[Grazioso]

I wasn't aware that Gluck was a roshi. 

Seriously, you're either being too concise or the victim of a missing hyperlink.

What is Zen?

The CD spins in the player.