Which composers do you associate with which GMG members?

[Gurn Blanston]

Like I mentioned already, Gurn, it was a misunderstanding on my part, which I already apologized for. Let's move on.

Let me just point something out there, Gurn. Let's say somebody says that "Haydn was one of the most lousy, unoriginal, derivative composers that ever lived," you wouldn't feel a least bit upset?

Not at all. I would simply laugh at you and put on another symphony. It's not personal with me. I am secure in the knowledge that Haydn was one of the greatest composers of all time, by any standard. I don't need you to validate that for me. And if you feel that way about Delius, then you should be secure in your own judgement too. So what if someone else thinks he is "(one of the most) lousy, unoriginal, derivative composers that ever lived"? You should trust yourself more. "Sticks and stones..." as we said when we were 8.... 

[Mirror Image]

Not at all. I would simply laugh at you and put on another symphony. It's not personal with me. I am secure in the knowledge that Haydn was one of the greatest composers of all time, by any standard. I don't need you to validate that for me. And if you feel that way about Delius, then you should be secure in your own judgement too. So what if someone else thinks he is "(one of the most) lousy, unoriginal, derivative composers that ever lived"? You should trust yourself more. "Sticks and stones..." as we said when we were 8.... 

Good points. I'm secure with my opinion about Delius being one of the greatest, because of the knowledge I have gained.

[Gurn Blanston]

Right and I get blasted for it repeatedly. In fact, I even get messages from moderators telling me not to insult Bach.

If I understood those messages correctly (and I usually do) they were actually telling you to not go out of your way to make trouble just for the sake of taking a shot at Bach, and then complaining when someone else takes a shot at Delius. If you don't like Bach, then why go in a Bach thread and say "I don't like Bach"?  So really, you should have taken that as good advice in the kindly spirit in which it was given, rather than try to engage me about in in public where you have to know I am going to be plainspoken.

[Gurn Blanston]

Good points. I'm secure with my opinion about Delius being one of the greatest, because of the knowledge I have gained.

There you go. Who can argue with that? 

[The new erato]

You test this regularly with the Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach lovers on GMG 

That is exactly my point and what irks me. Particularly when your hand only has Delius and some other minor cards.

[The new erato]

Good points. I'm secure with my opinion about Delius being one of the greatest, because of the knowledge I have gained.

I wouldn't be so sure about knowledge, particularly when you disapprove of academia. Personal preferences however, noone can argue about.

[Mirror Image]

I wouldn't be so sure about knowledge, particularly when you disapprove of academia. Personal preferences however, noone can argue about.

Erato, I'm done arguing with you about this. You clearly did not bother to read what I wrote about academia when I said I disagree with these institution's approach to music history. This is the only aspect of academia I disagree with. Interesting story I asked my Grandfather, who holds a Masters degree in Music Education and Composition, why Delius isn't given more exposure in colleges and he said "Politics and high and mighty opinions at large." He went on further and told me he had heard of Delius when he was a band director during WWII and he chose to perform a wind band arrangement a band member made of On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring and he said he just loved that particular work and he still talks about it. My Grandfather isn't a really big fan of Delius like I am, but he does admit that his music is inventive and well orchestrated. Thought I would share this little sliver of information with you.

[Daverz]

I disagree with these institution's approach to music history.

Perhaps someone could make an argument for the importance of Delius in the history of Western music.  As music lovers we are free to ignore the main narrative of music history and explore the byways and back roads as we please.

Speaking for myself, I've enjoyed Appalachia, but the shorter orchestral works tend to sound too static for my taste.  I much prefer Bax is this genre.

[Mirror Image]

As music lovers we are free to ignore the main narrative of music history and explore the byways and back roads as we please.

Very true and I've most certainly done this.

[The new erato]

Very true and I've most certainly done this.

That's what I do too, and some of my greatest joys are discovering what has been footnotes in musical history. There's no doubt that the waywardness of history (not scholarship necessarily) has left tons of good stuff in the wayside. But things I enjoy doesn't need to be proclaimed the greatest in the world. I frankly enjoy some stuff I have no problem admitting is second- and thirdrate.

And I am in no doubt whatsoever, that even though many really good composers are seriously overlooked and underexposed, that that doesn't work the other way. All the greats are great for a reason. Listening to Beethovens contemporaries turns up some seriously good music (and tons of duds or near duds), but it also leads to another level of appreciation for Beethoven's genius and leaves one in no doubt why Beethoven is the towering genius he is. That some composers deserve more exposure (and how I wish orchestras and ensembles were more adventurous, a diet of Beethoven doesn't draw me to the concert hall however highly I value him) doesn't mean the great ones are less great. That's where I think you are very seriously wrong, and let's leave it at that.

[Karl Henning]

That's what I do too, and some of my greatest joys are discovering what has been footnotes in musical history. There's no doubt that the waywardness of history (not scholarship necessarily) has left tons of good stuff in the wayside. But things I enjoy doesn't need to be proclaimed the greatest in the world. I frankly enjoy some stuff I have no problem admitting is second- and thirdrate.

Excellent good sense.

Finding a good footnote doesn't mean that the footnote should really be five main paragraphs, of course.

[Elgarian]

I associate Karl Henning with Karl Henning.

(This penetrating observation was also made, I see, by Florestan five or six years ago. But if a thing's worth saying once, it must be worth saying twice. Surely?)

[Karl Henning]

This is the sort of consistency I strive for!

[Florestan]

some of my greatest joys are discovering what has been footnotes in musical history. There's no doubt that the waywardness of history (not scholarship necessarily) has left tons of good stuff in the wayside. But things I enjoy doesn't need to be proclaimed the greatest in the world. I frankly enjoy some stuff I have no problem admitting is second- and thirdrate.

And I am in no doubt whatsoever, that even though many really good composers are seriously overlooked and underexposed, that that doesn't work the other way. All the greats are great for a reason. Listening to Beethovens contemporaries turns up some seriously good music (and tons of duds or near duds), but it also leads to another level of appreciation for Beethoven's genius and leaves one in no doubt why Beethoven is the towering genius he is. That some composers deserve more exposure (and how I wish orchestras and ensembles were more adventurous, a diet of Beethoven doesn't draw me to the concert hall however highly I value him) doesn't mean the great ones are less great.

Post of the month.

[Sergeant Rock]

You don't even suspect how right you are.  "Speluncă" in Romanian means "tavern", even "ill-famed tavern", and honestly I've had a few shots... 

I didn't know when I first read your reply, but Mrs. Rock just informed me a few minutes ago that Spelunke has the same meaning in German 

Sarge

[Florestan]

I didn't know when I first read your reply, but Mrs. Rock just informed me a few minutes ago that Spelunke has the same meaning in German 

The interesting fact is that in French, Spanish or Italian it retained only the original Latin meaning of "cave", while in Romanian and in German it lost it for good.  Perhaps Romanians and Germans back in the old days used to drink in caves. 

[vandermolen]

Just noticed this thread which links me with 'any obscure British or Nordic composers'. Hopefully my taste is a bit wider - what about Miaskovsky and Braga Santos, not to mention Honegger, David Diamond VW and Bruckner? Anyone would think that all I did was sit around listening to the music of Klaus Egge all day. 

[Mirror Image]

Just noticed this thread which links me with 'any obscure British or Nordic composers'. Hopefully my taste is a bit wider - what about Miaskovsky and Braga Santos, not to mention Honegger, David Diamond VW and Bruckner? Anyone would think that all I did was sit around listening to the music of Klaus Egge all day. 

Don't worry Jeffrey, I have always associated you with Braga Santos and Myaskovsky.

[petrarch]

The interesting fact is that in French, Spanish or Italian it retained only the original Latin meaning of "cave", while in Romanian and in German it lost it for good.  Perhaps Romanians and Germans back in the old days used to drink in caves. 

If I may add to this, in portuguese the word is espelunca and the most common meaning is a dirty, poorly kept place, typically a house.

Let's not forget about the english verb spelunking, close to the original latin meaning.

[Mirror Image]

Petrarch will forever be Luigi Nono to me. I mean this has been his avatar for how long now?