Your favorite chamber music composer

[Jay F]

I listened to Bill McLaughlin's Exploring Music on my local PBS station a couple of nights last week. He devoted the week to Schubert's String Quartets and Quintet, and it occurred to me that after Mahler, there's no music I like more than Schubert's chamber music. And I didn't realize this until I'd been listening to classical for a couple of decades. I think it was hearing the Emersons' versions that let me know how much I actually like Schubert, and then chamber music in general. The Emersons got me listening to both Beethoven and Shostakovich as well, plus a little Bach and Brahms. No Haydn yet, of course.

Anyway, enough from me. Who is your favorite?

[Brian]

Probably Dvorak. Other options include Beethoven, Brahms, and...nah, it's Dvorak.

[Mirror Image]

Shostakovich, Janacek, Bartok, Weinberg, Prokofiev, Martinu, Poulenc...I simply can't choose.

[Gurn Blanston]

This is an incredibly difficult question for me. Until just a few years ago, 80% or more of my collection consisted solely of chamber music, and my taste in it is far more diverse than in orchestral music. Of course, I chose Haydn, since he is the progenitor of so much of modern chamber music, but this doesn't in the least curb my enthusiasm for Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Brahms, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky (so little!), Saint-Saëns or Shostakovitch. Or a dozen others either. To me, the intimate ensembles betray a far deeper sense of a composer's spirit, ability and style than a large orchestra does.

[Sergeant Rock]

Haydn, runner-up Brahms.

Sarge

[Todd]

Beethoven.

[Mirror Image]

Not to mention Ravel and Debussy....YIKES! I throw in the towel here with a non-vote.

[Mirror Image]

Just a thought for a moderator: shouldn't this thread be filed under "The Polling Station" section of the forum?

[NorthNYMark]

I went with Shostakovich, because I don't think there's a single movement throughout his 15 string quartets that doesn't make me swoon (at least to some extent).  It was tough not to choose Beethoven, though, especially if we can include solo piano along with the quartets. trios, etc.  I'm surprised that Beethoven hasn't been walking away with it so far.  My third choice would probably be Schubert.

[Gurn Blanston]

Just a thought for a moderator: shouldn't this thread be filed under "The Polling Station" section of the forum?

Probably. I'm not a purist. One will come along, though.

[Jay F]

I went with Shostakovich, because I don't think there's a single movement throughout his 15 string quartets that doesn't make me swoon (at least to some extent).  It was tough not to choose Beethoven, though, especially if we can include solo piano along with the quartets. trios, etc.  I'm surprised the Beethoven hasn't been walking away with it so far.  My third choice would probably be Schubert.

Maybe I should have limited it to string quartets.

I feel the same way you do about Shostakovich, Mark, even though he's my second favorite. I find every moment of it so wonderful to listen to. Where was this music all my life?

[NorthNYMark]

Maybe I should have limited it to string quartets.

I feel the same way you do about Shostakovich, Mark, even though he's my second favorite. I find every moment of it so wonderful to listen to. Where was this music all my life?

Yes, I feel the same way.  I have been particularly fascinated by string quartets in general over the past year or so--and it was Schubert's 15th Quartet in G Major (performed by the Quartetto Italiano) that got me started on this path.  That work(and performance) remains a special favorite of mine. I still have a lot of his chamber output yet to explore.

[Brian]

Poulenc

Oh, heck yes. Okay, so my top four is probably Dvorak, Beethoven, Poulenc, Brahms.

[Mirror Image]

Oh, heck yes. Okay, so my top four is probably Dvorak, Beethoven, Poulenc, Brahms.

[Ken B]

Haydn, runner-up Brahms.

Sarge

Ditto. Or vice-versa.
I voted Haydn mostly because there is so much of it at such a high level.

[amw]

There is a lot more chamber music than there is any other kind of instrumental music, including orchestral works, so this question makes no sense outside the bizarre GMG "Music, b. 1875 d. 1935, R.I.P." world.

[SonicMan46]

Well, I'd have to go for the classical era into the early romantic, although I do love the chamber works of Brahms - I voted for Wolfie just to give him a vote, although Haydn would be in the top tier for me.  But I just cannot imagine not being awed by the volume and quality of the chamber works of Mozart who died @ 35 years of age - still some of my favorite clarinet chamber works; the flute quartets; piano trios/quartets; string trios/quartets/quintets; violin sonatas and more! - impressive for me and a style I enjoy - Dave

[Mirror Image]

I ended up voting for Shostakovich. How could I not? He is my No. 1. The SQs, Piano Trios, Violin Sonata, Piano Quintet, and the Cello Sonata are all first-rate works and only reiterates how amazing this composer was IMHO.

[Luke]

Brahms.

[The new erato]

To me, the intimate ensembles betray a far deeper sense of a composer's spirit, ability and style than a large orchestra does.

To me too. And since I couldn't select them all (and add Faure), I abstain from voting.