Great composers that are not your cup of tea

[karlhenning]

We might say that disliking composers is not my cup of Darjeeling.

[DavidW]

Well unlike Koechlin fans, HB fans keep it on their own thread.

[karlhenning]

Hah!

[Israfel the Black]

Anyway, Bruckner was a difficult composer for me to get into, because much of the same reasons: overblown and obnoxious outbursts from the brass section and so much repetition that it just pissed me off after awhile. But then I realized later that his music is about spiritual transcendence not making grand statements which I had previously thought. Everything he composed was for God. I also around this time started to read more about his life and background. His appearance and demeanor was that of a simple man, but what's amazing is what was happening in his mind. The repetition in his music for me now is simply a compositional device and the results to my ears now is mesmerizing. I also think the man composed some of the most gorgeous slow movements in all of classical music.

Indeed!

That's so true. Many people have described his music as building cathedrals with sound. The structure of his music is some of the most organized and well-thought out in all of classical music.

You might like Celibidache's Bruckner if you haven't already heard it.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Although I'm coming close to disliking Havergal Brian merely by association with his overly chatty fans.



Do you realize that thread has almost 2,000 posts! 

It also doesn't help that I find his music boring ... but lest I coax an inveterate HB lover over here and derail this thread, I will be quiet.

Did someone call?


Just leaving. 

[Mirror Image]

Well unlike Koechlin fans, HB fans keep it on their own thread.

[Mirror Image]

Indeed!

You might like Celibidache's Bruckner if you haven't already heard it.

Well I've enjoyed Bruckner for years and consider him one of my favorite composers. All I was saying earlier was that it wasn't always an easy road to that appreciation and admiration I have for his music now.

[fuhred]

Bartok and Martinu. Yuck!

[Mirror Image]

Bartok and Martinu. Yuck!

The whole Classical Era. Yuck!

[Grazioso]

The whole Classical Era. Yuck!

"My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all."

[Mirror Image]

Another composer I just haven't been able to get into is Kodaly. I mean I know he's written some good works, but I find him overall unsatisfying especially compared to his countryman Bartok. There's just nothing in his music that grabs me and I've heard all of his orchestral works thanks to Dorati and Fischer.

[haziz]

It's Mahler for me, though I do find his 4th Symphony delightful and his first bearable, the rest I just don't get.

Bruckner to some extent also.

Sincerely,

Hany.

[Roberto]

I have no disliked composer. There are composers who I rarely listen of course but I wouldn't say I don't like their music. Of course I don't know every composer. I didn't like Richard Strauss earlier but now I gladly listen to his music also.

Another composer I just haven't been able to get into is Kodaly. I mean I know he's written some good works, but I find him overall unsatisfying especially compared to his countryman Bartok. There's just nothing in his music that grabs me and I've heard all of his orchestral works thanks to Dorati and Fischer.

Kodály is less important composer than Bartók indeed. His music is less interesting, less powerful. Even in Hungary there are opinions that much of his music is simply boring. But Bartók considered him as the principal Hungarian composer. I have favorite Kodály pieces: the Psalmus Hungaricus is mesmerizing for me with Doráti/Simándy every time I listen to it. The 2 orchestral dances are good also. I like the Székely Fonó with Ferencsik and the Te Deum of Buda Castle mass is one of my favorite.