Your Top 10 Baroque composers

[North Star]

I usually do not participate in polls, but this provides a challenge..

Of course 10 is a somewhat too low a number to mention all the top Baroque composers. I've attempted to provide a fair distribution over the various "schools" or geographic traditions.

The pioneers that paved the way from Renaissance to Baroque:

Germanic tradition:

The French tradition:

The Italians:

In his own mix of German, Italian and English traditions:
Handel

Oops, is that more than 10? Sorry, guys...

*clicks Report to moderator* 0:)
You meant to write of course that you usually don't participate, and when you do, you cheat. 
But seriously, you're of course absolutely right. Heck, there could be a separate Top 10 thread for each of the categories in your post, Que.
I of course included 2 from each (3 from Italians), and Handel on my list 

[DavidW]

I've attempted to provide a fair distribution over the various "schools" or geographic traditions.

Go for it, I would appreciate reading it.

[North Star]

Go for it, I would appreciate reading it.

Que did already post 20 names on that list, so what exactly are you asking for? I'm sure we'd all like to read more from him on the subject matter.

[Wakefield]

Of course 10 is a somewhat too low a number to mention all the top Baroque composers. I've attempted to provide a fair distribution over the various "schools" or geographic traditions.

Nice! I would bet your education was at some point under French influence because is very characteristic of French thought to think Art History in terms of "schools".

[Marc]

Stupid poll.
Dumb question.



I don't want to think about it.

I'm insufficiently skilled to think about such questions.

My thoughtless Top 10
(with the thought that Monteverdi, Sweelinck, Frescobaldi, Schütz et al are more early Baroque than late Renaissance composers .... John the Baptist is already New Testament, too):

1  J.S. Bach
2  G.F. Händel
3  H. Purcell
4  F. Couperin
5  D. Buxtehude
6  J.P. Sweelinck
7  A. Vivaldi
8  C. Graupner
9  G. Böhm
10 J.P. Rameau

[DavidW]

Que did already post 20 names on that list, so what exactly are you asking for? I'm sure we'd all like to read more from him on the subject matter.

Oh whoops I misread that, I thought he said that he could even further differentiate and expand on his lists.  My bad.

[Moonfish]

These lists are hard!!

In random order:

JS Bach
Vivaldi
Handel
Marais
Rameau
Purcell
Couperin
Telemann
Monteverdi (or is that too transitional?)
Pergolesi

[Ken B]

These lists are hard!!

In random order:

JS Bach
Vivaldi
Handel
Marais
Rameau
Purcell
Couperin
Telemann
Monteverdi (or is that too transitional?)
Pergolesi

Some have questioned both Monte and verdi. (So good he gets named twice) I include the dynamic duo as being the reigning genius when and where the baroque was invented. True, a lot of his best music, madrigals, is more of a renaissance thing. But the Vespers is the first masterpiece of the baroque. If we were listing 12 tone composers would we omit Schoenberg? So I counted and named Monteverdi.

[Moonfish]

+1, there were just so many wonderful composers back then, and more of their music is being discovered all the time.

+1

So true! Looking over the "lists" in this thread there seems to be a strong consensus compared to many of the other favorite composers lists here in GMG.  I wonder if there is more of a bias in the baroque repertoire related to how we encounter this period?  I suspect (considering the trend in the recordings of more unusual repertoire) that this specific list may change a bit over the next ten years.  Do you think we are biased in terms of how we favor certain Baroque composers due to how these works were preserved/copied and performed over the last few centuries?

[North Star]

Some have questioned both Monte and verdi. (So good he gets named twice) I include the dynamic duo as being the reigning genius when and where the baroque was invented. True, a lot of his best music, madrigals, is more of a renaissance thing. But the Vespers is the first masterpiece of the baroque. If we were listing 12 tone composers would we omit Schoenberg? So I counted and named Monteverdi.

But isn't it precisely the madrigals (5th book) where the seconda prattica emerges in his music?
I agree, transitional composers must be included if they clearly wrote in the style in question.

[Ken B]

But isn't it precisely the madrigals (5th book) where the seconda prattica emerges in his music?
I agree, transitional composers must be included if they clearly wrote in the style in question.

To my ears yes. The 5th book is in a new style compared to the 4th. I actually prefer the older. But once we get to the last books this is baroque music. Whereas all the Marenzio I have heard is olden style for instance.

[Papy Oli]

An era with limited presence in my collection, but a slowly growing interest none the less.

The firmly established ones :

1. D. Scarlatti (Scott Ross)
2. Rameau (Scott Ross / Mercelle Meyer for keyboard works and Bruggen or Rousset with Indes Galantes)
3. Pergolesi (Stabat Mater Alessandrini)
4. Vivaldi (Hogwood boxset)

The pleasing irregular ones :

5. Galuppi (sonatas)
6. Fux (Requiem)
7. Schutz (Musikalisches Exequien, Psalmen Davids)
8. Monteverdi (Vespers)

then the 2 big names where Hogwood is gradually helping on orchestral works :

9. Bach
10. Handel

****
The tried-and-not-fully-converted : Lully, Albinoni, Biber, the Couperins, Boccherini, Clementi, Telemann.
The main current unknowns : Marais, Purcell, Buxtehude, Corelli, Frescobaldi, Charpentier

[North Star]

An era with limited presence in my collection, but a slowly growing interest none the less.

then the 2 big names where Hogwood is gradually helping on orchestral works :

9. Bach
10. Handel

****
The tried-and-not-fully-converted : Lully, Albinoni, Biber, the Couperins, Boccherini, Clementi, Telemann.

Which works from Bach have you heard, Oli? Cantatas, Mass in B minor, Mattheus Passion, organ works, harpsichord works?

Boccherini is Classical, though

[Papy Oli]

Boccherini is Classical, though

oops, I'd better change his colour in my database 

Which works from Bach have you heard, Oli? Cantatas, Mass in B minor, Mattheus Passion, organ works, harpsichord works?

The only Bach works I regularly enjoy are the Goldbergs (Gould, Leonhardt), the Cello Suites (Starker) and some Partitas by Gould again. I slowly get into the Brandeburg Concertos with Hogwood too. I did buy the Bach Brilliant edition very early on and this is probably my only purchase regret. I can't get into his Passions, Masses, Cantatas and organ works at all. What only stood out of the box were the Motets CD and his reworking of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater (Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden).

I have listened to WTC and AoF before (Sokolov, Leonhardt, Richter) and violin sonatas too (Faust) but honestly, it is more a respectful appreciation than an enjoyment....this sums up my overall relation with Bach's music...

[North Star]

The only Bach works I regularly enjoy are the Goldbergs (Gould, Leonhardt), the Cello Suites (Starker) and some Partitas by Gould again. I slowly get into the Brandeburg Concertos with Hogwood too. I did buy the Bach Brilliant edition very early on and this is probably my only purchase regret. I can't get into his Passions, Masses, Cantatas and organ works at all. What only stood out of the box were the Motets CD and his reworking of the Pergolesi Stabat Mater (Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden).

I have listened to WTC and AoF before (Sokolov, Leonhardt, Richter) and violin sonatas too (Faust) but honestly, it is more a respectful appreciation than an enjoyment....this sums up my overall relation with Bach's music...

Hmm. Do you like other composers' organ music? It usually takes some time to warm to organ, and I don't know how the performances are in the BC set.
Pretty much the same applies to the choral music too - there are better recordings out there.

[Papy Oli]

Hmm. Do you like other composers' organ music? It usually takes some time to warm to organ, and I don't know how the performances are in the BC set.
Pretty much the same applies to the choral music too - there are better recordings out there.

off hand, I don't have any other solo organ music, no, only as part of sacred choral works. Not a sound I am too keen on at the moment, but I don't get too hung up on this anyway. It took a long while before I clicked on the harpsichord and the HIP sound in general (I liked some of it before but just without knowing it was !!). It is ever evolving anyway so maybe I'll come round to it eventually. 

Maybe down line, I'll re-assess the cantatas and other choral works with specific single recordings, when I am ready 

[North Star]

off hand, I don't have any other solo organ music, no, only as part of sacred choral works. Not a sound I am too keen on at the moment, but I don't get too hung up on this anyway. It took a long while before I clicked on the harpsichord and the HIP sound in general (I liked some of it before but just without knowing it was !!). It is ever evolving anyway so maybe I'll come round to it eventually. 

Maybe down line, I'll re-assess the cantatas and other choral works with specific single recordings, when I am ready 

Of course not all of the cantatas are choral.
https://www.youtube.com/v/I9BbWneSWQE

[Que]

Stupid poll.
Dumb question.



I don't want to think about it.

I'm insufficiently skilled to think about such questions.

Me neither, but fortunately the naming game has some good side effects...

(with the thought that Monteverdi, Sweelinck, Frescobaldi, Schütz et al are more early Baroque than late Renaissance composers .... John the Baptist is already New Testament, too):

Absolutely.

8  C. Graupner

I really should have included Graupner, though primarily on account of the strenght of his wonderful harpsichord music. But no opportunty should be wasted to drive home its qualities...

Boccherini is Classical, though

And so is Clementi.

Q

[Marc]

Me neither, but fortunately the naming game has some good side effects...
[....]

Yeah, and it's just me blabbering around both having fun in making these lists as well as mocking them.
I mentioned Graupner btw because he was my main 'Surprise' in the last, say, 10 to 12 years.

In general, I experience the best 'click' with the German school (if there really is one) and I felt a bit sorry to leave out names like Schütz, Froberger, Bruhns and Telemann, although probably I should pay more listening attention to representatives of other 'schools', too, like Frescobaldi, Corelly, Lully and Marais.

And all those other names not mentioned.

Anyway, this period of 1600-1750 is without question topping my top 10.

[The new erato]

To my ears yes. The 5th book is in a new style compared to the 4th. I actually prefer the older. But once we get to the last books this is baroque music. Whereas all the Marenzio I have heard is olden style for instance.

To my ears as well. And his operas are definitely baroque.