Greatest composer of the 20th century?

[Jubal Slate]

"Greatest" should probably go to Stravinsky.

[Karl Henning]

"Greatest" should probably go to Stravinsky.

The case can be made, at least.

[mszczuj]

I would probably choose Bartók but I must refuse to vote as Prokofiev is not mentioned.

Arvo Pärt? Phillip Glass? Really?


And if Elektra is not the 20th century music there is no 20th century music at all.

[Mirror Image]

Yes, I find this list incredibly one-sided, but, hey, it's James' way or no way.

[San Antone]

I would probably choose Bartók but I must refuse to vote as Prokofiev is not mentioned.

Arvo Pärt? Phillip Glass? Really?


And if Elektra is not the 20th century music there is no 20th century music at all.

If you're going to make such a big deal about Strauss, why not Rachmaninoff?  Of the two, The Rach is who I listen to more. I agree Philip Glass or Steve Reich or John Adams should not even be in the running, but Arvo Pärt is a cut above those others.

I agree, I think the case for Bartok is overstated.  Since my choice, John Cage, is not supported by anyone else - (although I think he more than most has influenced other composers and defined a way of thinking about art that caused a huge impact in the 20th century, and continuing) - then I think it comes down to Igor Stravinsky or Arnold Schoenberg.

[Sergeant Rock]

Gustav Mahler, of course. "... meine Zeit wird kommen" and it has, in the second half of the twentieth century 

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

If you're going to make such a big deal about Strauss, why not Rachmaninoff?  Of the two, The Rach is who I listen to more. I agree Philip Glass or Steve Reich or John Adams should not even be in the running, but Arvo Pärt is a cut above those others.

Agreed viz. Pärt.  (On Сергей Васильевич, I think part of why the discussion on this thread chases its tail is a disregard for a distinction between great — which both Rakhmaninov & Prokofiev are — and greatest.)

Viz. Cage, my hat is off to you for being a good sport and acknowledging the possible benefits of peer review.  You're miles ahead of the OP in this, as in other things 

[Jubal Slate]

If you're going to make such a big deal about Strauss, why not Rachmaninoff?  Of the two, The Rach is who I listen to more. I agree Philip Glass or Steve Reich or John Adams should not even be in the running, but Arvo Pärt is a cut above those others.

I probably listen to Ravel and Rachmaninoff most of the 20th century crew. Prokofiev is up there as well.

[Karl Henning]

I probably listen to Ravel and Rachmaninoff most of the 20th century crew. Prokofiev is up there as well.

They are all great listening.  It would be rather eccentric, perhaps, to listen to Stockhausen more than to these 

[ritter]

They are all great listening.  It would be rather eccentric, perhaps, to listen to Stockhausen more than to these 

Then I am an eccentric  ....I listen to a lot of Ravel, Prokofiev on a regular basis, and next to zero Rachmaninoff... Stockhausen, on the other hand, I listen to quite often (not as much as Boulez, of course  )...

[Karl Henning]

I did say perhaps 

[San Antone]

Neither Strauss or Rachmaninoff receive much attention de moi, but of the two, Rach is the easy winner.  I really don't listen to Strauss at all.  Stockhausen does pop up fairly often, about equally with Boulez - but mostly I listen to other 20th-21st composers.  A good deal of my new music listening is to hardly known composers I find on YouTube or Soundcloud, i.e. really new music.

[Florestan]

Greatest I dunno, but biggest, surely this guy.

[Jubal Slate]

Just passing through to (scandalously?) mention the names Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus.

You forgot Ellington.

[Cato]

Greatest I dunno, but biggest, surely this guy.

Is that Segerstam these days?!

[Florestan]

Is that Segerstam these days?!

These days, those days and all days. 

[San Antone]

You forgot Ellington.

I'd say Ellington has the the best case for consideration.  Not to take away any from the other two.

[North Star]

Thanks, I appreciate the 'real' reply, I see what you're saying .. but i still think the outputs of Bartok, Stravinsky or Webern are pretty consistent compared to most and of a very high quality - loads of mind-bogglingly great stuff, sure there are peaks but a lot of it is pretty damn amazing. Regarding Stockhausen .. with or without LICHT, he's one of the best of the century easily - i.e. Gruppen, Klavierstücke, Zyklus, Zeitmesze, Stimmung, Mantra, Momente, The Electronic Music. I don't share your enthusiasm for Carter much .. I find a lot of it really arid & dull. Just curious .. what is your view on Cage as a composer?

You mean e.g. and not i.e. there.

[North Star]

You have too much time on your hands.

Thank you for taking the time to point that out.

[Karl Henning]

Another remark, normally neither here nor there, which attains an extra dimension of amusement because it's James posting it.