Five important pre-1980 composers that you easily could live without

[San Antone]

I assume the question means "died before 1900."

All of them except these five: Machaut, Bach, Verdi, Wagner, and Brahms.

[Symphonic Addict]

I assume the question means "died before 1900."

All of them except these five: Machaut, Bach, Verdi, Wagner, and Brahms.

More synthesized and narrow, impossible.

No Haydn? Schubert? I would never include a Renaissance or Middle Ages composer as a five ultimate favorite (as an apart and personal comment). I think you included works in most of forms as much as possible?

And no, sorry, I meant born before 1950, and significant or important or relatively known so for you. In those 50 years makes another difference.

[San Antone]

More synthesized and narrow, impossible.

No Haydn? Schubert? I would never include a Renaissance or Middle Ages composer as a five ultimate favorite (as an apart and personal comment). I think you included works in most of forms as much as possible?

And no, sorry, I meant born before 1950, and significant or important or relatively known so for you. In those 50 years makes another difference.

My answer is that I can live without all composers who did not write a work past 1900 except those five. 

[Symphonic Addict]

Your answer is: Five important pre-1950 composers that you couldn't live without. A hard job that! 

I don't know if I could do anything similar, although in my personal view...


Beethoven
Nielsen
Brahms
Shostakovich
Dvorak

Wow, I didn't think I could do it! 

[kyjo]

Prompted by the ongoing discussion, I had a maiden listen to this:



Atmospheric, haunting, magical music in colorful, lush orchestration --- what's not to like, I wonder? In fact, I think I might have just made a major discovery.

Great to hear!

[kyjo]

Let's see...I absolutely would die a happy man if I never heard another note from Nørgård, Xenakis, almost any Baroque Era composer, Verdi, Pettersson, Satie, Pfitzner, Bacewicz and most British composers (w/ the exception of Vaughan Williams, Britten, Elgar, Walton and Arnold).

Once again, I strongly disagree with you about the majority of British composers. And I'm surprised to hear you don't like Bacewicz - I would think her style would be right up your alley! Agreed re. Nørgård, Xenakis, and Verdi.

[Mirror Image]

Once again, I strongly disagree with you about the majority of British composers. And I'm surprised to hear you don't like Bacewicz - I would think her style would be right up your alley! Agreed re. Nørgård, Xenakis, and Verdi.

I like Bacewicz, but just not well enough to call her a favorite.

[kyjo]

And is it good or bad?

You know my opinion!

[LKB]

The five most recorded composers by Maria Callas.

So I never again have to risk hearing Maria fucking Callas.

<chuckles heartily>

[Brian]

And is it good or bad?

I make no judgment! It's like if your group of friends really likes kung fu movies, that is neither good nor bad, it's just a group of people who really like kung fu movies!

[MusicTurner]

The five most recorded composers by Maria Callas.

So I never again have to risk hearing Maria fucking Callas.

Then most likely Donizetti, Verdi, Bellini, Puccini, and Rossini, or maybe Bizet.

[Florestan]

Rossini (his music seems to be the antithesis of my taste  )
Verdi (almost as bad as Rossini)
Paganini (extreme virtuosity alone doesn't make interesting music)

You should never ever consider visiting Italy, you'd loathe each and every day spent there. 

As for Paganini, many important composers and writers considered his music extremely interesting. Just saying.

[Madiel]

You should never ever consider visiting Italy, you'd loathe each and every day spent there. 

I don't remember people spontaneously bursting into operatic song in Venice or Milan. I had to go to La Scala to experience it (Monteverdi).

[Florestan]

I don't remember people spontaneously bursting into operatic song in Venice or Milan. I had to go to La Scala to experience it (Monteverdi).

What I mean is that the general mood and atmosphere in Italy, especially south of Rome, is quite Rossinian: carefree, joyous, fun and dolce farniente-ish. 

[Madiel]

What I mean is that the general mood and atmosphere in Italy, especially south of Rome, is quite Rossinian: carefree, joyous, fun and dolce farniente-ish. 

Ah well, I stayed up north!

[Florestan]

Ah well, I stayed up north!

I went as far south as Sorrento*, south of Naples, and enjoyed every second of the two-day stay in that region. Places, landscapes and people's mood, everything was to my liking. --- but then again I had been quite the Italianophile even before setting foot on Italian soil for the first time. 

of the Torna a Surriento fame, also Torquato Tasso's birthplace.

[Karl Henning]

I make no judgment! It's like if your group of friends really likes kung fu movies, that is neither good nor bad, it's just a group of people who really like kung fu movies!

Precisamente!

[Karl Henning]

You should never ever consider visiting Italy, you'd loathe each and every day spent there. 

Incorrect. When we spent two wonderful weeks touring about Italy at will, it so happened that we heard no measurable amount of Verdi, Rossini or Paganini (probably there were bits in television ads, which never proved excessive. In fact I don't think that Paganini rose to even the level of a trace element. So a dislike for these composers is no obstacle at all to enjoying Italy.

[Florestan]

Incorrect. When we spent two wonderful weeks touring about Italy at will, it so happened that we heard no measurable amount of Verdi, Rossini or Paganini (probably there were bits in television ads, which never proved excessive. In fact I don't think that Paganini rose to even the level of a trace element. So a dislike for these composers is no obstacle at all to enjoying Italy.

You seem to have missed my subsequent post, Karl. 

[Symphonic Addict]

I make no judgment! It's like if your group of friends really likes kung fu movies, that is neither good nor bad, it's just a group of people who really like kung fu movies!

Ah, good to hear! So it's not odd to prefer British music like Bax's symphonies to Chopin Waltzes. I'm relieved.  0:)

I'm guilty!