Brahms sucks. Who should take his place in the 3 Bs?

[The Six]

That scoundrel Brahms has unfairly claimed this spot for long enough. To think that such mousy obsequiousness could stand beside Bach, the father of music, and Beethoven, the incarnation! It annoys me that this self-inflated mediocrity is hailed as a genius, and it is time for a true composer to take his place.

We must decide!

[The new erato]

This is a typical case where Banana should have been included.

[springrite]

First of all, I would never take Brahms off the list.

Secondly, where is Britten? How about Brian? Ha!

Thirdly, Bingen is not a name, but a place! Hildegard of Bingen!

[The new erato]

First of all, I would never take Brahms off the list.

Neither would I unless there was a Banana option.

[david johnson]

I nominate Bix Biederbecke

[The new erato]

I nominate Bix Biederbecke

You mean Beiderbecke?

[Karl Henning]

In fact, when the phrase was first coined, Berlioz was (hat tip to Carol Reed) The Third B.  Hans von Bülow swapped Brahms in for Louis-Hector, the chauvinistic swine         

[Karl Henning]

Anyway, the premise of this thread is all wrong.  Brahms rawks!

[springrite]

Anyway, the premise of this thread is all wrong.  Brahms rawks!

In fact, Brahm's name comes in third only because it is alphabetically listed.

[North Star]

In fact, when the phrase was first coined, Berlioz was (hat tip to Carol Reed) The Third B.  Hans von Bülow swapped Brahms in for Louis-Hector, the chauvinistic swine         

The only reason why I voted, and voted for Berlioz. I of course agree: Brahms does rawk.
But, I must point out that among the replacement for the "self-inflated mediocrity", is none other than Arnold Bax.

[North Star]

In fact, Brahm's name comes in third only because it is alphabetically listed.

Or perhaps chronologically. (same goes for the Berlioz version, too...)

[DavidW]

Composers forgotten: Bellini, Bizet, Britten.

von Bingen lol... name fail!

I still would vote and did vote for Bartok, though Brahms more than earned his place in the holy trinity. 0:)

[DavidW]

The only reason why I voted, and voted for Berlioz. I of course agree: Brahms does rawk.
But, I must point out that among the replacement for the "self-inflated mediocrity", is none other than Arnold Bax.

I like Bax but agree that he has no place on this poll.

[Karl Henning]

This is a typical case where Banana should have been included.

This is true.

The only reason why I voted, and voted for Berlioz. I of course agree: Brahms does rawk.

Aye, though I'm not sure I could sit through an all-Brahms orchestral program.  (Chamber music, all right, methinks.)

I like Bax but agree that he has no place on this poll.

Word.  We all of us love some (or indeed, many) lesser-known composers;  it doesn't really serve them to pretend that they belong in the very topmost tier.  (I think it entirely right to resist the notion that only the topmost tier is worth listening to, of course.)

[North Star]

Aye, though I'm not sure I could sit through an all-Brahms orchestral program.  (Chamber music, all right, methinks.)

Not an ideal program, for sure, but I think I could survive the 2nd PC coupled with one of the symphonies.

I like Bax but agree that he has no place on this poll.

Especially with Britten, Busoni, Byrd, Borodin, and Boulez missing.

[kyjo]

Bruckner, for sure. I'm a little dismayed not to see Braga Santos up there, though!

[Brahmsian]

The only thing Brahms sucks was cigars.

He is among my 3 co-favourite composers (Brahms, Beethoven and Shostakovich).

[The Six]

This is a typical case where Banana should have been included.

A banana is delicious, but not a composer, and that joke has been played out, just like the music of that giftless Brahms. I could eat a banana, but anyone who could swallow the B-flat Piano Concerto with appetite can calmly await a famine; he could also get along splendidly on the nutrtitive equivalent of window glass and cork stoppers.

[Karl Henning]

(* picks his way through the Valley of Over-wrought Puns *)   

[Brahmsian]

A banana is delicious, but not a composer, and that joke has been played out, just like the music of that giftless Brahms.

Oh my, I am sorry you think of Brahms as giftless. 

Well, to each their own.  Not everyone likes the same composers or same works.  Otherwise, life would be pretty boring if we all liked the same things!

Are their some works by Brahms that you do enjoy?