Which Composer Poster Do I Use?

[Brian]

First of all, Gershwin instead of Copland. Or Bernstein.


But anyways, I'd say go on looks. No, seriously. Find a composer who just looks particularly intense/interesting/magnetic/scary. The young Brahms is terrific. But at least one picture can be a composer who may not be the most important, but *looks* interesting in a way that makes kids do a double- or triple-take. Also, I actually think Hilary Hahn is a great idea. Or if she would distract you too much, Ana Vidovic or Ana Maria Martinez. If there are any girls in your class you might require the services of Simon Trpceski or Pavel Sporcl. I am not joking, sir. Not only do these cute youngsters (including Brahms) add a certain ... spice    to the classroom - they demonstrate that classical music isn't all about dead old white guys with beards. Even cool (and ridiculously attractive... *clicks the Vidovic link again*) people play good music!

[hornteacher]

I am not joking, sir. Not only do these cute youngsters (including Brahms) add a certain ... spice    to the classroom - they demonstrate that classical music isn't all about dead old white guys with beards. Even cool (and ridiculously attractive... *clicks the Vidovic link again*) people play good music!

Actually after a female student asked why all the composers were male, I began constructing a poster area for the classical performers of today.  Alison Balsam, Eric Ruske, Martin Frost, Janine Jansen, Alisa Weilerstein, and of course Hilary (and others).  The kids took a lot of interest in them because in their world performers outrank composers.

BTW, I used Mahler for the final poster choice (the set didn't include a Gershwin or Bernstein).  The kids loved the death march from the "Titan" Symphony.

[Don]

Okay, stupid poll perhaps, but I need some help with a problem.  I have a set of 20 composer posters that I'm hanging up in my band room.  I'm hanging them between the sound panels because the 16"x20" frames fit perfectly.  I have spots for 15 posters.  I have already selected the 14 listed below but I need some help choosing the last one.  Who should go on the wall, and why?

Bach
Handel
Haydn
Mozart
Beethoven
Schubert
Mendelssohn
Schumann
Brahms
Dvorak
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Shostakovich
Copland

You need more Russian input, so go with Taneyev, Miaskovksy or Weinberg.

[Brian]

You need more Russian input, so go with Taneyev, Miaskovksy or Weinberg.

  Strange how you skipped straight over Rimsky, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, and even Khachaturian, but to each his own. 

[Kullervo]

    Strange how you skipped straight over Rimsky, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, and even Khachaturian, but to each his own. 

Who the hell are those guys? 

[marvinbrown]

Okay, stupid poll perhaps, but I need some help with a problem.  I have a set of 20 composer posters that I'm hanging up in my band room.  I'm hanging them between the sound panels because the 16"x20" frames fit perfectly.  I have spots for 15 posters.  I have already selected the 14 listed below but I need some help choosing the last one.  Who should go on the wall, and why?

Bach
Handel
Haydn
Mozart
Beethoven
Schubert
Mendelssohn
Schumann
Brahms
Dvorak
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Shostakovich
Copland

  Hornteacher, if I may I would like to politely point out that that list is missing the great ROMATIC opera composers in the history music.  I think a picture of VERDI or PUCCINI would be most appropriate. Puccini seems to be an ideal candidate- he wrote wonderfully accessible operas that would appeal to the young music students (I will admit that WAGNER is too heavy and inaccessible to young students- although his influence on Mahler mentioned in your poll is undeniable)

marvin

[Don]

    Strange how you skipped straight over Rimsky, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, and even Khachaturian, but to each his own. 

Didn't skip them - didn't even think of them.  My mind immediately went to those three rather obscure Russian composers who deserve much better.

[hornteacher]

  Hornteacher, if I may I would like to politely point out that that list is missing the great ROMATIC opera composers in the history music.  I think a picture of VERDI or PUCCINI would be most appropriate. Puccini seems to be an ideal candidate- he wrote wonderfully accessible operas that would appeal to the young music students (I will admit that WAGNER is too heavy and inaccessible to young students- although his influence on Mahler mentioned in your poll is undeniable)

marvin

You are absolutely right and I'm not downplaying the influence of Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, etc.  The class, however, is an instrumental class so I've confined my limited time in teaching history to the composers of instrumental music.  The chorus teacher across the hall on the other hand has all the opera composer posters.

[Renfield]

hang up on your wall the greatest musician of all time, Bach...



this famous picture of him ....holding a scrap of manuscript and sternly looking out. ..When you try your best and are pleased with something you write, just look up a this picture of him and half-imagine his expression has changed, and that he is half-smiling at you. 

Being entirely honest, I find him looking more than a bit like a feudal baron, handing down orders to his vassal!

(Only the orders are apparently encoded in a musical score. )

[Que]

hang up on your wall the greatest musician of all time, Bach...

Always liked this portrait much better, it's better painted too.



Q

[marvinbrown]

You are absolutely right and I'm not downplaying the influence of Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, etc.  The class, however, is an instrumental class so I've confined my limited time in teaching history to the composers of instrumental music.  The chorus teacher across the hall on the other hand has all the opera composer posters.

  Oh, well in that case my vote would be for Rachmaninov  !!


marvin

[Haffner]

hang up on your wall the greatest musician of all time...