Do you own the complete works of any composer(s)?

[Mark]

Or indeed, do you plan to?

What got me thinking about this was the 60-CD set of Beethoven's masterpieces released by Sony (admittedly, not complete, but it goes a long way towards being comprehensive), as well as the first two issues in the Complete Sibelius Edition now underway from BIS.

I'm keen to collect everything by Beethoven, Sibelius and possibly Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov or Mozart. That's to name just a few of the 'bigger' composers. I'm also interested in owning everything by Finzi and Britten. An expensive ambition if fulfiled for all eight composers.

Anyone care to share their views on this? I'd be interested to hear the opposing views of members for and against collecting all and everything by a particular composer.

[Florestan]

I'm keen to collect everything by Beethoven, Sibelius and possibly Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov or Mozart.

I very much doubt that KV 1 is worth hearing, let alone owning. 

Go for Rachmaninov instead, at 45 numbered works it will not leave you broke. 

[Que]

I come pretty close in Bach (missing some organ works) and also Brahms (missing piano transcriptions for four hands, and obscure stuff like that).

I'm aiming to get my Bach complete, but only because every note he wrote is worthwhile.
Since I wouldn't know of any other composer where that applies to , I think that will be it.
Though Brahms comes close - but he helped a bit by destroying a lot of his juvenelia..

I don't like clutter in my collection....

Q

[Florestan]

I'm aiming to get my Bach complete, but only because every note he wrote is worthwhile.

How do you know?

[Mark]

How do you know?

Fair question.

[Que]

How do you know?

A keen observation - but I've already heard what I'm still missing! Sorry.

And before that I'd never heard something by Bach that dissapointed - which seems a strong indication to me.

Q

[Mark]

A keen observation - but I already heard what I'm still missing! Sorry.

And before that I'd never heard something by Bach that dissapointed - which seems a strong indication to me.

Q

Fair answer.

[BachQ]

99% of Bach and Mozart
95% of Brahms
90% of Beethoven

[Hector]

Close to: Berlioz.

Was close but suspected some lesser works have yet to be recorded: Verdi.

I am no great fan of chamber music which means I will never have the 'Complete Works' of most composers!

[dtwilbanks]

I have lots of Beethoven. I'm sure I'm missing a few pieces but I have all the biggies.

(and I'm not doing too bad with Chopin either)

[Lethevich]

Sibelius composed a surprising amount of weak stuff, I must warn you, Mark I think that the BIS edition is going to be released in installments? I am going to buy the symphonies and tone poems only (perhaps the songs and incidental music too) - I'll buy a few single discs to get his good string quartet, the rest... meh

The only reasonably priced complete box I've seen that looks to be very solid (minimal weak performances, if any) is the Brilliant Mozart one - and even that I don't think I want to buy - I'd prefer to collect things seperately, and certainly don't want all of it. The only composer who produced quite a lot that I can imagine wanting to own every piece surviving by is Brahms (his WoO organ works, for example, are fine). Dvorak may be good too, I can imagine that his early chamber music is less bad than his first symphony, for example, but I don't enjoy his piano music. I guess I am anti-completion

I own a fair chunk of Bruckner's output excluding the obvious symphonies, but he has an unknown amount of non-mature choral music, which is generally under-recorded or not recorded, so I cannot be sure.

[Florestan]

A keen observation - but I've already heard what I'm still missing!

Indeed the only fair answer.

As for me, I think the only two composers I'll ever come close to owning everything by them (everything recorded, that is) are Beethoven and Chopin.

[dtwilbanks]

As for me, I think the only two composers I'll ever come close to owning everything by them (everything recorded, that is) are Beethoven and Chopin.

I knew I liked you. 

[Cato]

All of Bruckner and Mahler including all the study scores, even the Deryck Cooke version of Mahler's Tenth and everything available for the Finale of Bruckner's Ninth as of 1975.  I understand other discoveries were made here and there in the 80's and 90's.

95% of Schoenberg, again including study scores.  I also have a recording and study score of an early Quartet in D major, not part of the official 4.

95% of Karl Amadeus Hartmann again with the scores.

[Mark]

Sibelius composed a surprising amount of weak stuff, I must warn you, Mark

Ah, but that won't deter the completist in me.

[Florestan]

I knew I liked you. 

[Lethevich]

All of Bruckner

Does that include his requiem? The lack of info on the number of surviving early Bruckner works is a huge pain, I wish it could be found whether a recording project would be viable - eg not requiring dozens of CDs.

[Cato]

Ah, but that won't deter the completist in me.

I will send you off to the DVD store to find a disturbing movie from the '60's       with Terence Stamp called...    The Collector!    

[Cato]

Does that include his requiem? The lack of info on the number of surviving early Bruckner works is a huge pain, I wish it could be found whether a recording project would be viable - eg not requiring dozens of CDs.

Yes, there was a church choir in Minnesota who recorded it decades ago, and also in Minnesota, there was a very curious mail-order company, which sold study scores of all kinds of things for ridiculously cheap prices, even for the 1960's.  They are out of business now, but for many years they supplied me with arcana e.g. Penderecki's Utrenja for $5.00.

This would now cost probably $75. or more, if you can find it.

[Lethevich]

Yes, there was a church choir in Minnesota who recorded it decades ago, and also in Minnesota, there was a very curious mail-order company, which sold study scores of all kinds of things for ridiculously cheap prices, even for the 1960's.  They are out of business now, but for many years they supplied me with arcana e.g. Penderecki's Utrenja for $5.00.

Sounds like a nice place