Your Three Favorite Composers

[Mirror Image]

It's funny how the Requiem is so prominent. My collection is currently Requiem-free.

Why? You don't think it's a good work that deserves attention? Personally, I would take Durufle's Requiem over Faure's.

[Ken B]

Why? You don't think it's a good work that deserves attention? Personally, I would take Durufle's Requiem over Faure's.

I am sending you a bar of soap Fed ex. That mouth needs washing! 

Seriously Faure's chamber music is masterly, Brahms level stuff. The piano music and songs are great too. The orchestral music is not at the same level.

[Mirror Image]

I am sending you a bar of soap Fed ex. That mouth needs washing! 

Seriously Faure's chamber music is masterly, Brahms level stuff. The piano music and songs are great too. The orchestral music is not at the same level.

Have you heard Durufle's Requiem? I think it's a masterwork.

[Madiel]

Why? You don't think it's a good work that deserves attention? Personally, I would take Durufle's Requiem over Faure's.

No, it's simply the way things have happened as I've collected. You have to remember that by GMG standards I'm not a collector, with only 1 or 2 versions of works. Heck, the other week I deliberately went looking for a 2nd version of the Faure cello sonatas - for me, deliberate duplications are almost unheard of.

I started with the complete piano music (Kathryn Stott), then picked up Domus in the piano quintets which is basically one of my favourite discs of all time. After that I got more chamber music, and then the songs were taken care of because of Hyperion's complete set. In fact most of my Faure collection is Hyperion.

The Requiem is on the shopping list once I can pick a version. Part of the consideration is what it might be paired with. The choral music is  the largest gap in my current Faure collection.

[Mirror Image]

Looks like Shostakovich is now knocked out of the number one slot! The reason being is because each of the following composers have meant more to me than any other composers and this is just me being as honest as I can:

Stravinsky:



Bartók:



Ravel:



As a technicality, there is no order in these three favorites and the reason being is each of them could take the number one slot at any time.

[EigenUser]

As it stands now:


Honorable mention:

[Mirror Image]

As it stands now:


Honorable mention:

Not a fan of Gershwin, but I really enjoy Ligeti, although it's nowhere near love (yet). Surprised that Ligeti is in your top three. I suppose his music moves you emotionally and intellectually?

[EigenUser]

Not a fan of Gershwin, but I really enjoy Ligeti, although it's nowhere near love (yet).

I suppose Gershwin seems a bit out of place. His music is not complicated, but I think he did a great job in orchestral writing ("Concerto in F", "An American in Paris", and "Cuban Overture" are pieces I listen to very often) and I find a great deal of enjoyment in these three works alone. Maybe three pieces seems a bit low for honorable mention, but it's my list (I admit, part of this is because I feel bad that he died at such an early age). His early death (38 years old, from a brain tumor) is really a shame since he was starting to show real talent and musical diversity. I think that it's interesting that he thought highly of Schoenberg and twelve-tone music. Even though I don't care much for dodecaphonic music myself, this means a lot to me because it shows that he was capable of appreciating various styles in music (something that I am lacking in, though I try). It leads me to wonder what would have entered his musical influences in the future. Neoclassicism? Minimalism? Micropolyphony? Maybe it sounds absurd (to me, even, as I type), but we really won't know for sure.

Surprised that Ligeti is in your top three. I suppose his music moves you emotionally and intellectually?

Haha, I'm surprised that you're surprised. I've been fearing that my posts have been a one-trick-pony with my posts on Ligeti. There are several reasons why I am particularly attached to his music. I am fairly new here and I should add an "introduction" post for myself soon which may explain.

Since you like both Bartok and Stravinsky, I am going to assume that you particularly like Bartok's second piano concerto -- it has a lot of Stravinsky in it, I think (even aside from the sped-up "Firebird"-finale theme). I love the first two PCs equally (my favorite is whatever one I'm listening to at the time). The third is very good as well, but I don't enjoy it as much as the first two.

[Jay F]

Looks like Shostakovich is now knocked out of the number one slot! The reason being is because each of the following composers have meant more to me than any other composers and this is just me being as honest as I can:

Stravinsky
Bartók
Ravel

Wow. No way Mahler could ever sink to #4 with me. Or even #2.

[springrite]

Wow. No way Mahler could ever sink to #4 with me. Or even #2.

For me he could and probably does sink to #2, but if so, only because of Bach.

[Brahmsian]

Looks like Shostakovich is now knocked out of the number one slot!

Gasp!!!  I am shocked, John! 

[kishnevi]

Current favorites
Bach
Beethoven
Mahler

Although Haydn and Shostakovich are nipping closely at their heels.

And of the music of all five I could--l'havdil--apply the aphorism of Ben Bag Bag:  "Turn it over and over, for everything is in it".

[TheGSMoeller]

Gasp!!!  I am shocked, John! 

Rather we should be shocked if Shostakovich remained his favorite. 

[Brahmsian]

Rather we should be shocked if Shostakovich remained his favorite. 

John's 3 favourites started off like this (since start of thread):

Shostakovich
Schnittke
Hartmann

Now it is:

Stravinsky
Bartok
Ravel

I didn't all the pages in between to see if there have been other changes.  I just know that Shostakovich has long been a favourite of John's. That's why I was shocked. 

[Brian]

Beethoven
Dvořák


-
Honestly, while third place could go to Schubert, Ravel, Janacek, or Sibelius Chopin, the truth is that none of those four, or anyone else, has had anything like the influence of my top two so far in life.

The only revision I've had to make so far.

[Jay F]

Current favorites
Bach
Beethoven
Mahler

Although Haydn and Shostakovich are nipping closely at their heels.

Haydn could never nip at my Mahler's heels. He is my least favorite composer whose name I recognize.

[amw]

Of famous composers, Mahler is probably in my bottom three. Bruckner and Wagner are also down there, though I reserve the absolute lowest spot for John Adams.

Still, lots of smart people think very highly of all those composers, which tends to mitigate the pleasant frisson of being anti-establishment. If most of the people at or above your IQ like something you don't, chances are good you're missing out.

[Sergeant Rock]

Of famous composers, Mahler is probably in my bottom three. Bruckner and Wagner are also down there

Ha!...my top three. If this were 1885 you'd be in Hanslick's camp...and we'd be mortal enemies 

Sarge

[Ken B]

Ha!...my top three. If this were 1885 you'd be in Hanslick's camp...and we'd be mortal enemies 

Sarge

You have to admit Hanslick's quip is one of the great ones. "Wagner has beautiful moments, but dreadful quarter hours."

[Ken B]

The quarter hours thing is peerless. This is my choice for the second best musical insult: "Listening to the fifth symphony of Ralph Vaughan Williams is like staring at a cow for 45 minutes." - Copland