Your Three Favorite Composers

[Karl Henning]

Well, as we know from the diverse listenership on GMG    we can find fans for almost any conductor/recordings.  I don't know the Inbal Ravel recordings, but whatever the 2 or 3 Inbal recordings I heard in the Deep Past, the impression they made has not had me ever desirous to hear more.

[nodogen]

My list probably wouldn't look like that today, but it'd be somewhat similar:

Sibelius
Nielsen
Vaughan Williams

I suspect that Nielsen may be my next to investigate. I've no idea why, I can just feel it in my water. 🤔

[North Star]

I suspect that Nielsen may be my next to investigate. I've no idea why, I can just feel it in my water.

A splendid idea. How much Nielsen have you heard so far, if any?

[Mirror Image]

I suspect that Nielsen may be my next to investigate. I've no idea why, I can just feel it in my water. 🤔

Check out his six symphonies and concerti (three in all: one for violin, flute, and clarinet). If you need any recommendations for performances, then I'll happily help you. Also, the Nielsen thread may be of interest to you:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,230.0.html

[nodogen]

A splendid idea. How much Nielsen have you heard so far, if any?

"None" would be an over-exaggeration. Thanks, I shall follow up your suggestions (be aware I am somewhat snail-like)...

[71 dB]

I suspect that Nielsen may be my next to investigate. I've no idea why, I can just feel it in my water.

I don't know why you feel what you feel, but in my opinion Nielsen is one of the greatest 20^th century composers.  0:)

[nodogen]

I don't know why you feel what you feel, but in my opinion Nielsen is one of the greatest 20^th century composers.  0:)

I've only been listening to classical music for about 5 years; my knowledge is like my CD collection: skimpy! Thanks for the confirmation of my inkling.

[North Star]

"None" would be an over-exaggeration. Thanks, I shall follow up your suggestions (be aware I am somewhat snail-like)...

I'd urge you to check out the Wind Quintet, along with the works John (MI) recommended.
And a couple of fine shorter orchestral works that are a good entry point: Rhapsody Overture: An imaginary journey to the Faroe Islands & Helios Overture.
The piano music is not to be neglected, either: Chaconne Op. 32, Theme & vars. Op. 40, Piano Suite 'Luciferian' Op. 45, and Three Pieces, Op. 59.

(First law of GMG: eventually everything will be recommended.  )

[71 dB]

I've only been listening to classical music for about 5 years; my knowledge is like my CD collection: skimpy! Thanks for the confirmation of my inkling.

I have been listening to classical music for 20 years, so I was 15 years ago where you are now. Well, 15 years ago I though I know a lot. Today I feel I know hardly anything. The more CDs I buy the skimpier my collection feels! It's the insanity of abundance. I was lucky to discover the music of Nielsen very early on (I heard the 4th symphony on radio and I was blown away) but only now I am exploring composers like Bax, Alwyn, Liszt, Weinberg, C.P.E. Bach, Scriabin's piano music, etc. 

[Mirror Image]

I have been listening to classical music for 20 years, so I was 15 years ago where you are now. Well, 15 years ago I though I know a lot. Today I feel I know hardly anything. The more CDs I buy the skimpier my collection feels! It's the insanity of abundance. I was lucky to discover the music of Nielsen very early on (I heard the 4th symphony on radio and I was blown away) but only now I am exploring composers like Bax, Alwyn, Liszt, Weinberg, C.P.E. Bach, Scriabin's piano music, etc. 

The key is not to worry about what you know and what you don't know and just listen at your own pace. When I first got into classical music, I had this exploratory attitude, but, nowadays, it's not too terribly important for me to hear music I haven't heard before. I have more than 10 lifetimes worth of music in my collection. I just go at my own leisure and I have found this is much more beneficial and rewarding for me.

[ritter]

Shall I make three and be done with it?

Boulez
Wagner
Natasha Barrett

But idk that just seems to represent some of the music I just really like at the moment.

You are a man of excellent taste,  jessop!  Your list is very similar to mine:

- The "número uno": Richard Wagner
- Claude Debussy
- Pierre Boulez

Still can't believe I left out Igor Feodorovich,  but "Claude de France" gets the upper hand chez ritter these days. ..

[71 dB]

The key is not to worry about what you know and what you don't know and just listen at your own pace.

I miss those early years when I did just that. I didn't even have an internet connection home until 2002 or was it 2003? I just Googled Altavisted about Elgar and other favorite composer in the university/work. The problems started when I joined GMG. Suddenly I was a target of heavy influence and I started to worry about a lot of things! Suddenly people started telling me how my Leaper Nielsen cycle isn't good and I am totally confused. 

When I first got into classical music, I had this exploratory attitude, but, nowadays, it's not too terribly important for me to hear music I haven't heard before. I have more than 10 lifetimes worth of music in my collection. I just go at my own leisure and I have found this is much more beneficial and rewarding for me.

Sometimes I feel I should just stop exploring and buying and listen to what I have, but I make amazing discoveries among non-classical music, so it's difficult to not explore classical music too. 

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

You are a man of excellent taste,  jessop!  Your list is very similar to mine:

- The "número uno": Richard Wagner
- Claude Debussy
- Pierre Boulez

Still can't believe I left out Igor Feodorovich,  but "Claude de France" gets the upper hand chez ritter these days. ..

I have always enjoyed your Wagner and Boulez posts!

[Mirror Image]

I miss those early years when I did just that. I didn't even have an internet connection home until 2002 or was it 2003? I just Googled Altavisted about Elgar and other favorite composer in the university/work. The problems started when I joined GMG. Suddenly I was a target of heavy influence and I started to worry about a lot of things! Suddenly people started telling me how my Leaper Nielsen cycle isn't good and I am totally confused. 

Sometimes I feel I should just stop exploring and buying and listen to what I have, but I make amazing discoveries among non-classical music, so it's difficult to not explore classical music too. 

I'm not sure why you feel the need to bring up Leaper's Nielsen cycle yet again? I thought we already resolved that issue? You like it, I don't. So what? Anyway, I'm enjoying music at my own pace now and I don't feel compelled to listen to classical music just because I'm on a classical forum just like I don't feel compelled to listen to jazz on a jazz forum. I go where my heart desires and where my mood is. Classical music just hasn't been under my radar lately and that's perfectly fine with me as I listened to so much of it for almost a seven year stretch with no kind of musical detours. Classical, jazz, and progressive rock are all genres that a part of my spiritual being and I don't know what I'd do without them.

[NikF]

I'm enjoying music at my own pace now and I don't feel compelled to listen to classical music just because I'm on a classical forum just like I don't feel compelled to listen to jazz on a jazz forum. I go where my heart desires and where my mood is. Classical music just hasn't been under my radar lately and that's perfectly fine with me as I listened to so much of it for almost a seven year stretch with no kind of musical detours. Classical, jazz, and progressive rock are all genres that a part of my spiritual being and I don't know what I'd do without them.

Those are all good points and I wholly agree. I think it's perfectly natural to go through cycles of listening (and watching and reading) and in a way perhaps it might even be healthy, to help sharpen previous appetites for when they return. It's all cool.

[71 dB]

I'm not sure why you feel the need to bring up Leaper's Nielsen cycle yet again? I thought we already resolved that issue? You like it, I don't. So what?

I don't know. Perhaps I haven't really resolved it yet? Good to know at least you have. 

Anyway, I'm enjoying music at my own pace now and I don't feel compelled to listen to classical music just because I'm on a classical forum just like I don't feel compelled to listen to jazz on a jazz forum. I go where my heart desires and where my mood is. Classical music just hasn't been under my radar lately and that's perfectly fine with me as I listened to so much of it for almost a seven year stretch with no kind of musical detours. Classical, jazz, and progressive rock are all genres that a part of my spiritual being and I don't know what I'd do without them.

I have also had my non-classical years when I have listened to classical music very little if at all. I find those non-classical periods easier to "execute" at my own pace.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Those are all good points and I wholly agree. I think it's perfectly natural to go through cycles of listening (and watching and reading) and in a way perhaps it might even be healthy, to help sharpen previous appetites for when they return. It's all cool.

How I go about things as well. Although everyone tells me reading is very very good for me and yet I don't consistently read...I would like to

[Mirror Image]

Those are all good points and I wholly agree. I think it's perfectly natural to go through cycles of listening (and watching and reading) and in a way perhaps it might even be healthy, to help sharpen previous appetites for when they return. It's all cool.

Absolutely. I'm not worried about anything other than what gives me pleasure at moment.

[Mirror Image]

I have also had my non-classical years when I have listened to classical music very little if at all. I find those non-classical periods easier to "execute" at my own pace.

I'm sure I'll make a return to classical music at some point, but right now it's not even a concern if I do or if I don't.

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

For me:

Prometheus
Piano Sonatas (so so good!)
Mysterium
Etudes

Do you know le poème de l'extase?