The Mighty S's - Pick Your Favorite

[Mirror Image]

An incredibly difficult list and one that will be agonizing for some board members, which is what I like to see. My choice was easy. Is yours?

[springrite]

My choice was easy.

Suk?

I will... reluctantly... pick...

Strauss

[Mirror Image]

Suk?

I will... reluctantly... pick...

Strauss

As much as I love Suk, I don't consider him apart of what I would consider "The Mighty S's."

[springrite]

As much as I love Suk, I don't consider him apart of what I would consider "The Mighty S's."

I, on the other hand, had a duty to consider Stravinsky even if it is only because of one work--thus the "reluctance".

[Mirror Image]

I, on the other hand, had a duty to consider Stravinsky even if it is only because of one work--thus the "reluctance".

There's no question that all of the composers in this list are incredible and have crafted some of the most powerful music this planet has ever heard. I did mention this was going to be an "incredibly difficult," but, also an "agonizing" decision for some members. The whole idea, as with any of my polls, is to push the member into a corner so they can tell us the composer that truly has touched their lives and gives them the most happiness.

[mszczuj]

Richard Strauss. He is the second Mighty S on my list of Mighty S's.

[North Star]

Richard Strauss is a very easy choice indeed, as he is the only one on the list that isn't among my very favourites.

[mahler10th]

I listen to more Sibelius, but for sheer Orchestral brilliance and general awesomeness, I have went for Strauss.  You are right John, this kind of test is a real heart-breaker for some of us.  At a different stroke I would have went for Sibelius.  I am a member of a Sibelius forum, after all, and not a Strauss one.   

[TheGSMoeller]

Strauss, but I would gladly give Schoenberg some of that point for a close second place and just to see him get on the board.

[DavidW]

Shostakovich

My full ranking Shostakovich > Stravinsky = Schoenberg >>> Strauss

Strauss' music is mostly tedious notespinning to me.

The list of mighty S's seems to be grossly incomplete: Scarlatti (both), Schubert, and Schumann.

[Karl Henning]

Richard Strauss is a very easy choice indeed, as he is the only one on the list that isn't among my very favourites.

My kind of guy! : )

[Sergeant Rock]

Ten votes so far and mine is the only Sibelius vote? 

My full ranking Shostakovich > Stravinsky = Schoenberg >>> Strauss

Mine looks like this:

Sibelius=Shostakovich=Strauss=Schoenberg=Stravinsky...seriously.


Sarge

[North Star]

Shostakovich

My full ranking Shostakovich > Stravinsky = Schoenberg >>> Strauss

Strauss' music is mostly tedious notespinning to me.

The list of mighty S's seems to be grossly incomplete: Scarlatti (both), Schubert, and Schumann.

Sibelius is missing from your 'full ranking'.
Scriabin should be in the more complete version, too.

[Lisztianwagner]

I vote for Strauss; then, Shostakovich and Sibelius.

[North Star]

My kind of guy! : )

[Karl Henning]

Ten votes so far and mine is the only Sibelius vote? 

That's the result of such a wrench of a poll!

Mine looks like this:

Sibelius=Shostakovich=Strauss=Schoenberg=Stravinsky...seriously.

Exactly, or close to exactly ; )

If I interpret this as "weightings in my listening for the past two months," the ranking would be:

Stravinsky
Shostakovich
Sibelius
D. Scarlatti
Skryabin
Schoenberg
R. Strauss

[Opus106]

Can't believe that Shosty has taken such a beating, relatively speaking.

Strauss?

[TheGSMoeller]

Strauss seems to carry a love him/leave him status here on GMG, no in-between.

Strauss
Schoenberg
Stravinsky
Shostakovich
Sibelius

I do enjoy Sibelius quite a bit, this was actually a tight list for me. This is a convincing list, does this mean that the "S" could rival "B" as the best letter in classical music?

[springrite]

This is a convincing list, does this mean that the "S" could rival "B" as the best letter in classical music?

For me at least, as much as I love them (the ones listed and many other composers from Schumann, Scriabin to Schnittke), none of the Might S's post a threat to any of the Mighty B's.

[Opus106]

This is a convincing list, does this mean that the "S" could rival "B" as the best letter in classical music?

But one seems to need at least 5 Esses to balance the weight of even 3 Bees.