Why do you NOT like your favourite composer?

[jochanaan]

As for Mozart and keys ... he wrote before equal temperament. As of course did everyone then.

Minor technical correction: Equal temperament existed; it just wasn't universally used--as it isn't universally used today.

[starrynight]

Maybe the weaknesses of a composer are when they simply reflect the lesser music of their time and things within that period's style that can be less inspired when looking back on it from our perspective.  But the most talented composers escape that much of the time and manage to transcend it.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Some of Tchaikovsky's works have, for all their beautiful melodies, a bit weak structure.

Rachmaninov, too big hands.

Shostakovich, at times too depressing sounding music.

Richard Strauss: his melodies are to me at times too hard to remember. Of course, those that will stay, will stay with you to your grave.

Liszt, his symphonic poems in particular, can sound too repetitive. At times it's almost ridiculous. I still love them though, and they are severely underrated (outside of Les Preludes, of course).

[Jay F]

He died too soon. 9.25 symphonies was not enough.

[Cosi bel do]

I hate Bach because he made his wife compose in his place and became famous in her place. He stole her well deserved fame !

[North Star]

I hate Bach because he made his wife compose in his place and became famous in her place. He stole her well deserved fame !

Pardon me, but isn't your favourite composer Frau A. M. Bach, instead of J. S. Bach?

[Cosi bel do]

Heeem... I admit I don't know anything anymore

[king ubu]

I guess I hate composers who hate "Così fan tutte" because they consider it "immoral" ... they must be dumb-ass morons ('xept of course I love Ludwig van).

[Ken B]

I hate Bach because he made his wife compose in his place and became famous in her place. He stole her well deserved fame !

Give the man a break; he gave birth 20 times.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Sibelius wasn't always at his best when writing piano music, the fact he himself acknowledged often enough, iirc.

[chadfeldheimer]

I don't have one but several favorite composers. I pick Stockhausen, of whom I don't like some IMO wrong decisions, he made before he started working on his "Licht" cycle:
First decision: To undertake an oversized project like "Licht". This strait jacket paralysed his creativity for 25 years.
Second decision: To write the libretto by himself. I think he was much better in writing music than writing lyrics.
Third decision: To design the costumes and stage settings for "Licht". Again - I think he was much better in writing music. 

Also I don't like his empathy lacking remarks on 9.11. of course, even if it was put out of context by the media. However I'm sure he suffered a lot from the following reactions.

[Karl Henning]

I don't have one but several favorite composers. I pick Stockhausen, of whom I don't like some IMO wrong decisions, he made before he started working on his "Licht" cycle:
First decision: To undertake an oversized project like "Licht". This strait jacket paralysed his creativity for 25 years.
Second decision: To write the libretto by himself. I think he was much better in writing music than writing lyrics.
Third decision: To design the costumes and stage settings for "Licht". Again - I think he was much better in writing music.

These decisions taken as a complex, are indicative of an acute case of Wagneritis.  And one would have thought he should know better!

[Linus]

Sibelius wasn't always at his best when writing piano music, the fact he himself acknowledged often enough, iirc.

I must admit that, at this time, I find Sibelius' piano music to be more interesting than his orchestral stuff. I'm probably missing out.

[Jo498]

I bought the Gould disc with Sibelius piano and found it really boring (but then orchestral Sibelius is not a big favorite of mine either).

[Jaakko Keskinen]

I must admit that, at this time, I find Sibelius' piano music to be more interesting than his orchestral stuff. I'm probably missing out.

He is certainly not the worst piano composer there is. He has several decent piano works. Kyllikki for ex. springs to mind. But I prefer his chamber- (which is very underrated imo, outside of voces intimae) and orchestral music.

[RebLem]

Last time I flew through SLC, I saw this (for the first time).

Reminds me to tell everyone about a brewery in Valencia County, New Mexico, just south of Bernalillo County, where I live.  Its called the Tractor Brewing Company.  And why did they call it that?  So they could name their website www.getplowed.com   

[Sergeant Rock]

  Its called the Tractor Brewing Company.  And why did they call it that?  So they could name their website www.getplowed.com

Sarge

[chadfeldheimer]

These decisions taken as a complex, are indicative of an acute case of Wagneritis.  And one would have thought he should know better!

Yes - that's right. But somehow with his "Ring" Wagner achieved the impossible and was quite successful in fullfilling his large ambitions. I think beeing an opera specialist might have helped him thereby.

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Returning to Rachmaninov. It seems I often like more his early works, before he had found his personal style. For ex. while I like his piano concertos they don't make as large impression to me as say, the Rock or trio elegiaque no. 1 and 2 do.

[snyprrr]

Also I don't like his empathy lacking remarks on 9.11. of course, even if it was put out of context by the media. However I'm sure he suffered a lot from the following reactions.

Well, I mean, he IS a Luciferian, no?