Battle of the Sergeis

[amw]

I forgot I wanted to do this poll until I saw Brian's, for whatever reason.

Best composer? Best lover? Coolest name? Whatever the logic behind your choice, you can only pick one.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Easy: Proko.

[Mirror Image]

Easy for me, too: Prokofiev.

[North Star]

Prokofiev by a country mile.

[71 dB]

Taneyev 

[TheGSMoeller]

Easy...

or me, too...

by a country mile...

Prokofiev. 

[Lisztianwagner]

No contest, Sergei Rachmaninov.

[Karl Henning]

Easy: Proko.

No contest, Sergei Rachmaninov.

I have a tough time between these two, actually; but I do always wind up in the Paddy-Wagon . . . .

[North Star]

I have a tough time between these two, actually; but I do always wind up in the Paddy-Wagon . . . .

For me, the sheer volume of Prokofiev's masterworks tipped the scales.

[Brahmsian]

Taneyev for me.  Although, not an easy choice. 

[mc ukrneal]

Taneyev for me.  Although, not an easy choice. 

I thought you'd pick Brahms!

[springrite]

Prokofiev is just laughing at this poll. "What? No Igors? No Dimitris? No Vladimirs? No Borises? No Andres? Only Sergeis? Hahahahaha!!!"

[Brahmsian]

I thought you'd pick Brahms!

I would, if his name were Johannes Sergeyevich Brahms. 

[North Star]

I would, if his name were Johannes Sergeyevich Brahms. 

Boris Brahms would be better

[springrite]

Boris Brahms would be better

AKA *Boom!* *Boom!*

[PaulR]

The Bass Concerto is enough reason to not vote for Koussevitsky......

Prokofiev, of course.

[marvinbrown]

No contest, Sergei Rachmaninov.

  Indeed.................INDEED!!!!

  marvin

  PS: the problem with Prokofiev (my no.2 vote) is that in a previous vote it was ascertained that I was only familiar with no more than 10% of his works.  When I listed what I had heard (symphonies, handful of operas, piano and violin concertos) the response I got was that pretty much covers the basics of Prokofiev.  With 10% Prokofiev doesn't have a leg to stand on....you need a couple of legs to battle the all mighty RACH!!!!

  marvin

[Mirror Image]

  Indeed.................INDEED!!!!

  marvin

  PS: the problem with Prokofiev (my no.2 vote) is that in a previous vote it was ascertained that I was only familiar with no more than 10% of his works.  When I listed what I had heard (symphonies, handful of operas, piano and violin concertos) the response I got was that pretty much covers the basics of Prokofiev.  With 10% Prokofiev doesn't have a leg to stand on....you need a couple of legs to battle the all mighty RACH!!!!

  marvin

Ah, but Prokofiev composed successfully in more genres than Rachmaninov or I should say his compositional 'wingspan' was wider. For example, Prokofiev wrote some absolutely masterful ballets. Have you heard any of them? Have you heard Alexander Nevsky? This is another Prokofiev masterwork that sits right beside any Russian choral masterpiece. I think it's safe to say here you just prefer Rachmaninov over Prokofiev, which is absolutely fine of course, but don't think for a minute that Prokofiev wasn't a versatile composer. He was a true chameleon. It would take you a lifetime to be able to peg down the essence of Prokofiev, while, Rachmaninov, on the other hand, was much more straightforward, IMHO, in his musical endeavors.

[mc ukrneal]

Ah, but Prokofiev composed successfully in more genres than Rachmaninov or I should say his compositional 'wingspan' was wider. For example, Prokofiev wrote some absolutely masterful ballets. Have you heard any of them? Have you heard Alexander Nevsky? This is another Prokofiev masterwork that sits right beside any Russian choral masterpiece. I think it's safe to say here you just prefer Rachmaninov over Prokofiev, which is absolutely fine of course, but don't think for a minute that Prokofiev wasn't a versatile composer. He was a true chameleon. It would take you a lifetime to be able to peg down the essence of Prokofiev, while, Rachmaninov, on the other hand, was much more straightforward, IMHO, in his musical endeavors.

While I have a preference, I don't really have a horse in this race. But I don't think you are really correct in saying one had a 'wider wingspan'. Both did much more than what they are most famous for. Rachmaninov wrote The Bells, a wonderful choral piece (one of many) if you are not familar with it as well as numerous songs (many more than Prokofiev). His operas are great, though like Prokofiev, not heard that often (at least outside the Russian speaking world). Neither is known particularly for their chamber works, but both did some nice works there (arguably the Rach Piano trios reach a higher plateau than the rest). Both did transcriptions, though interestingly. Prokofiev's were mostly his own works while Rachmaninov's were of other composer's works.

Ultimately, Rachmaninov's composing career was impacted by his performing career, where he wrote very little in the last 20 years of his life.

[Mirror Image]

While I have a preference, I don't really have a horse in this race. But I don't think you are really correct in saying one had a 'wider wingspan'. Both did much more than what they are most famous for. Rachmaninov wrote The Bells, a wonderful choral piece (one of many) if you are not familar with it as well as numerous songs (many more than Prokofiev). His operas are great, though like Prokofiev, not heard that often (at least outside the Russian speaking world). Neither is known particularly for their chamber works, but both did some nice works there (arguably the Rach Piano trios reach a higher plateau than the rest). Both did transcriptions, though interestingly. Prokofiev's were mostly his own works while Rachmaninov's were of other composer's works.

Ultimately, Rachmaninov's composing career was impacted by his performing career, where he wrote very little in the last 20 years of his life.

But what I was saying in terms of 'compositional wingspan' has to do with the myriad of styles Prokofiev wrote in. Rachmaninov's compositional voice was much more limited as he was essentially a late-Romantic. This is why I mentioned Prokofiev is a more complicated musical persona. It certainly, and, of course I never said, that one approach was better than the other. They were both two very different composers, I just feel that Prokofiev had more to offer the listener in terms of style.