Honegger vs. Martinu

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Since we've seen an onslaught of ridiculous new polls, I figured I would join the crowd and post one. I have decided not to add a third option for the simple fact that I want people to actually think about their choice. So back to the question: who do you prefer?

Honegger -



Martinu -

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My choice was difficult to make but I prefer Honegger's music over Martinu's. One of the reasons I do is because I think there's a humanizing voice behind much of Honegger. The music can, on many occasions, seem turbulent, but it never outstays its welcome and there are even many lyrical, but eerie moments in the music that just sends chills down my spine. I can't say Martinu's music does this for me. Some of Martinu reaches me on an emotional level, but here Honegger simply wins.

[DieNacht]

Martinu. I´ve actually got them both almost complete, though this doesn´t ´mean that they have been memorized :-).

IMHO there´s more variety to discover in Martinu and the "Double Concerto" can be said to be Honegger in disguise :-). One could argue though, that the earlier Honegger and Martinu of the Paris-1920s are quite similar to each other, at least now and then.

The Martinu 6 / Neumann would be in my Top 15 of symphony recordings, whereas Honegger´s 2 & 3 with Baudo are probably those Honeggers I cherish most and they would probably be in a Top-30.

[mahler10th]

My choice was difficult to make but I prefer Honegger's music over Martinu's. One of the reasons I do is because I think there's a humanizing voice behind much of Honegger. The music can, on many occasions, seem turbulent, but it never outstays its welcome and there are even many lyrical, but eerie moments in the music that just sends chills down my spine. I can't say Martinu's music does this for me. Some of Martinu reaches me on an emotional level, but here Honegger simply wins.

Yes, very difficult, silly, but most engaging!!  I go for Martinu for no other reason than I've heard more by him, he is widely regarded for more than his symphonies and orchestral pieces, but qualitatively, no preference whatsoever.  In fact, now I feel sorry for Honegger because I have voted against him!   

[Lethevich]

Martinů wins slightly for me, because he wrote more that I like. Honegger is a bit more consistent, but this refinement means that he wrote less music that I consider top-tier. Martinů's output can be a hassle to sort through, though, due to its variability.

[Klaze]

I felt compelled to de-lurk, because this is not even close in my book: Martinu. In my opinion, although he made use of a lot of different styles, in the end, he has more of an unique voice than Honegger.

[DavidW]

I haven't heard Honegger but I voted anyway.  Sorry.   Maybe I should listen to some Honegger.

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I haven't heard Honegger but I voted anyway.  Sorry.   Maybe I should listen to some Honegger.

For this, I'm just about ready to delete this poll...

You shouldn't vote if you haven't heard a lot of either composer's music.

[DavidW]

For this, I'm just about ready to delete this poll...

You shouldn't vote if you haven't heard a lot of either composer's music.

If it makes you feel any better Martinu still wins by a landslide even without my vote!

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If it makes you feel any better Martinu still wins by a landslide even without my vote!

Poll deleted!

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Okay, well I guess I should have seen this one coming. Martinu is very popular on this forum and he should be I think. He's an amazing composer and one of my favorites. I guess Honegger gets no love, but there have been some positive responses on his own composer thread.

[mahler10th]

Poll deleted!

Ach! Bad vote David.   Bohuther Honetinu would have won anyway, I think.   

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Ach! Bad vote David.   Bohuther Honetinu would have won anyway, I think.   

Martinu did win. He had more votes, but what made me mad is David's comment. He hasn't even heard Honegger but he voted for Martinu. This is just an ignorant thing to say. It's kind of like me saying I like chocolate ice cream more than butter pecan and I haven't even tried butter pecan.

[Lethevich]

We do it all the time with recordings

"This is the best!" "How many have you heard?" "At least 10% of them!"

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We do it all the time with recordings

"This is the best!" "How many have you heard?" "At least 10% of them!"

No, Lethe. This is different. Those are recordings. I'm talking about a composer's music compared to another composer's music, which in this case, Dave has only heard Martinu, so he has no right to vote if he hasn't even heard the other composer's music. If he didn't make that comment, the poll would still be up.

[Cato]

Many moons ago Honegger charmed me: the Christmas Cantata, Joan of Arc, King David, the jaunty jazzy Concertino for Piano and Orchestra, and the Symphonies II and III. 

In the end,Martinu and his symphonies and concerti might seem to outdoHonegger and his works in spiritual, emotional impact.  The tipping point for some people could be the symphonies: Honegger's are pleasant enough in general, but with the exception of the Secondand Third they are not as memorable as Martinu's.

Still, the Christmas Cantata, Le Roi David etc. should weight the scales (I would think) to make him at least equal to Martinu.

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Many moons ago Honegger charmed me: the Christmas Cantata, Joan of Arc, King David, the jaunty jazzy Concertino for Piano and Orchestra, and the Symphonies II and III. 

In the end, Martinu and his symphonies and concerti might seem to outdo Honegger and his works in spiritual, emotional impact.  The tipping point for some people could be the symphonies: Honegger's are pleasant enough in general, but with the exception of the Secondand Third they are not as memorable as Martinu's.

Still, the Christmas Cantata, Le Roi David etc. should weight the scales (I would think) to make him at least equal to Martinu.

Honegger's symphonies pleasant? I don't think so. Sounds like you've barely scratched the surface of these works. All of the music I've heard from Honegger is very emotionally direct. Martinu, in many cases, seems like he's just note-spinning. I adore many of his works, but some of them seem simply contrived. Honegger's music doesn't lack emotional drive whatsoever. I think people just haven't given Honegger a proper listen and chance for the music to win them over, which proves that Honegger's music has much depth and actually requires effort on the listener's part to understand and/or appreciate.

[mahler10th]

No, Lethe. This is different. Those are recordings. I'm talking about a composer's music compared to another composer's music, which in this case, Dave has only heard Martinu, so he has no right to vote if he hasn't even heard the other composer's music. If he didn't make that comment, the poll would still be up.

I agree.  Such intervention was grossly ill informed, destructive and extremely stupid.  It ruined what could have been an interesting sparring of views and ideas on both composers.  That is why my features are such  ...   

[Cato]

Honegger's symphonies pleasant? I don't think so. Sounds like you've barely scratched the surface of these works. All of the music I've heard from Honegger is very emotionally direct. Martinu, in many cases, seems like he's just note-spinning. I adore many of his works, but some of them seem simply contrived. Honegger's music doesn't lack emotional drive whatsoever. I think people just haven't given Honegger a proper listen and chance for the music to win them over, which proves that Honegger's music has much depth and actually requires effort on the listener's part to understand and/or appreciate.

Since 1963 I have been visiting Honegger's symphonies: thanks for the assumptions about how well I pay attention to Honegger, and thanks for reading my little essay so cursorily!   

Allow me to help!   0:)

Many moons ago Honegger charmed me: the Christmas Cantata, Joan of Arc, King David, the jaunty jazzy Concertino for Piano and Orchestra, and the Symphonies II and III. 

In the end,Martinu and his symphonies and concerti might seem to outdo Honegger and his works in spiritual, emotional impact.  The tipping point for some people could be the symphonies: Honegger's are pleasant enough in general, but with the exception of the Secondand Third they are not as memorable as Martinu's.

Still, the Christmas Cantata, Le Roi David etc. should weight the scales (I would think) to make him at least equal to Martinu.

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thanks for reading my little essay so cursorily!   

No problem. I'm glad I could help you.