Favorite Classical Nationality Poll

[eyeresist]

Thanks for bumping this. I finally voted - Russia and Eastern Europe. England and Germany tie for distant third place.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for bumping this. I finally voted - Russia and Eastern Europe. England and Germany tie for distant third place.

Yeah, I had forgotten about it until I started to think tonight about how most of the composers I love are from Russia, France, or one of the East European countries. Of course, I like Austrian, British, and Latin American composers a lot as well.

[North Star]

Based on 19th century and later:
Russian:         Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich
Ger/Aus:         Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler
French:           Berlioz, Alkan, Satie, Debussy, Ravel
East Euro:      Chopin, Janacek, Bartók

Russia and Germany/Austria win on numbers, but some of the biggest favourites are in the French and E-European section, Alkan, Debussy, Ravel, Chopin, Janacek, and Bartók are all among my very favourites.

[Karl Henning]

Tough poll! Should have gone with the banana, perhaps, but . . . I cast my votes for Russian, French, and Eastern European Catch-All . . . .

[Leon]

German/Austrian (couldn't avoid this with my love of Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven as well as the 2nd Viennese School); French (I dearly love Faure, Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc, Milhaud, Durufle, even Messiaen and Boulez [!] and just about any French composer) & American (so many 20th century composers from the U.S. are great, imo) were my choices. 

Aside from Stravinsky I don't much care for the Russians; the Eastern Europeans I ilke a bit more, e.g. Bartok, Kodaly, Dvorak, Janacek, but there are so many more French and Americans I could not avoid including them. 

[Karl Henning]

Aside from Stravinsky I don't much care for the Russians . . . .

We can still be mates, but I'm cryin' here.

http://www.youtube.com/v/STBEultmudE

[Leon]

We can still be mates, but I'm cryin' here.

Yeh, I know - my bad ...

[Mirror Image]

Tough poll! Should have gone with the banana, perhaps, but . . . I cast my votes for Russian, French, and Eastern European Catch-All . . . .

We chose the exact same nationalities. You've got good taste.

[eyeresist]

Well, I just realised I've been delving into The Six this year, so maybe I'll come back and add France later....

[Gurn Blanston]

I chose Austrian, Russian Italian. Sort of surprised to see Italian so poorly supported.

[eyeresist]

Well, Italy = opera, and there are not a lot of opera fans here.

[Leon]

The Italian Baroque is where I spend a lot of time.  But I'm also an opera fan

[eyeresist]

The Italian Baroque is where I spend a lot of time.  But I'm also an opera fan

What about baroque operas?   I do like a tasty Italian sinfonia, but I can only pour my income down one sinkhole at a time.

[Mirror Image]

Well, Italy = opera

Go ahead and tell that to Respighi, Malipiero, Casella, Dallapiccola, and Pizzetti. Maybe in someone's narrow outlook Italy = opera, but they're sadly mistaken and not looking at the whole picture. Not only that but what about the Baroque Era in Italy? What a thriving musical scene.

[The Six]

Well, I just realised I've been delving into The Six this year

[Florestan]

Depends on the time frame.

Baroque: 1. Italian 2. French 3. German/Austrian

Classical: 1. German/Austrian 2. Italian 3. French

Romanticism: 1. German/Austrian 2. Russian & Scandinavian (ex aequo) 3. French

Modern: 1. Russian 2. French & Eastern European (ex aequo) 3. Scandinavian

Contemporary: 1. American 2. American 3. American (if you get me a beer I will tell you which American too )

And for the special category of opera: 1. Italian & French (ex aequo) 2. German/Austrian 3. Russian

[Karl Henning]

Nicely done, Andrei.

And, heck: I'll stand you a beer! ; )

[Florestan]

And, heck: I'll stand you a beer![/font] ; )

Much obliged, sir! I would like it to be German/Austrian! 

[Karl Henning]

Much obliged, sir! I would like it to be German/Austrian! 

We have an old German Bierhaus here in Boston, Andrei : )

[Florestan]

We have an old German Bierhaus here in Boston, Andrei : )

Karl and an old German Bierhaus... what else do I need as an excuse to visit Boston?