Most bombastic composers of the 20th/21st century?

[Ken B]

Charles Ives deserves a seat at this table...

*pounds table*

[EigenUser]

Charles Ives deserves a seat at this table...

Indeed.

Also, one particular piece that I find intentionally bombastic is Adams' Short Ride in a Fast Machine.

[mszczuj]

This is the definition of bombastic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQbInyX3vm8

[Wanderer]

"Bombastic" is one of those abused terms which are often used to describe practically anything above mezzo-forte.

A work that deserves the description, though, is this: https://youtu.be/mWYC3_4nuic

[Karl Henning]

Threads like this do habitually increase the breadth of the brush 

[ibanezmonster]

Threads like this do habitually increase the breadth of the brush 

Let's add Feldman in here while we're at it.

[Ken B]

Let's add Feldman in here while we're at it.

[North Star]

And Webern.

[ritter]

You guys are all ignoring Mompou in this discussion 

[North Star]

You guys are all ignoring Mompou in this discussion 

And Cage!

[Mirror Image]

Okay...let's get back on topic guys: I vote for Kancheli for sheer increase in volume.

[aukhawk]

Messiaen.
Sarge

How could I forget? Mea culpa!

I'm shocked.    You guys have been listening to all the wrong bits! 

I, on the other hand, filter those out and what is left is, to me, the epitome of quiet contemplation.

[ritter]

Even if it just makes it into the 20th century by less than a decade, I think Mahler's 8th Symphony (particularly the Veni Creator Spritus section) has rarely been surpassed in terms of bombast... ...and I don't mean it as a compliment to the piece 

[Mirror Image]

Even if it just makes it into the 20th century by less than a decade, I think Mahler's 8th Symphony (particularly the Veni Creator Spritus section) has rarely been surpassed in terms of bombast... ...and I don't mean it as a compliment to the piece 

I've never liked Mahler's 8th anyway. Completely overblown even by Mahlerian standards.

[ritter]

The beginning of 8th is unlistenable for me, I haven't heard anything past the first minute.  Although I am sure it gets better...?

I very much dislike the beginning of the Eighth...having said that, the last 15 minutes or so of Part II from the point in which Mater Gloriosa sings the words "Komm! Hebe dich zu höhern Sphären!", followed by Doctor Marianus's "Blicket auf!" and ending with the famous "Alles vergängliche..." passage, are sublime (I cannot think of any other word to decsribe this)....Music of the spheres indeed! 

[kishnevi]

Thanks, I will fast forward to that part.

No, you lose out doing that.
M8 is actually tightly integrated,  and to get the full impact of the last fifteen minutes, you need to hear what Mahler was doing with those notes in the first seventy minutes.

And while bombastic does apply to the opening, I do not feel it more bombastic than, say, Beethoven's Mißa Solemnis or the Verdi Requiem.

[Karl Henning]

I very much dislike the beginning of the Eighth...having said that, the last 15 minutes or so of Part II from the point in which Mater Gloriosa sings the words "Komm! Hebe dich zu höhern Sphären!", followed by Doctor Marianus's "Blicket auf!" and ending with the famous "Alles vergängliche..." passage, are sublime (I cannot think of any other word to decsribe this)....Music of the spheres indeed! 

Agreed on all points, although Jeffrey's point about the musical integration stands, also.

[Brian]

Has anyone mentioned Havergal Brian?

[Ken B]

The beginning of 8th is unlistenable for me, I haven't heard anything past the first minute.  Although I am sure it gets better...?

It gets better the way Gurrelieder gets better.

[jochanaan]

No, you lose out doing that.
M8 is actually tightly integrated,  and to get the full impact of the last fifteen minutes, you need to hear what Mahler was doing with those notes in the first seventy minutes.

And while bombastic does apply to the opening, I do not feel it more bombastic than, say, Beethoven's Mißa Solemnis or the Verdi Requiem.

Thank you!  It's very true.  in fact, all of the works' main themes are stated in about the first minute of playing time. (Disclaimer: As I've stated many times in this forum, I do love this symphony.  Loud?  Yes, but sometimes very soft--not unlike Mahler's other symphonies.  Bombastic?  Probably.  Sublime?  Yes!  All IMHO, of course.)