All other composers are inferior to Beethoven

[MN Dave]

Thank you, and good night! 

[Montpellier]

Bye-e-e!

[MN Dave]

LvB would like to thank those composers who set the stage for him and those that gave it a good try after he was gone! Cheers!

[Millfields]

Not far off, he truly was a great, the finshed article. Mozart was also fantastic but lacked the real development that LVB displayed. IMO only Wagner ever showed any real development after Beethoven

[MN Dave]

Not far off, he truly was a great, the finshed article. Mozart was also fantastic but lacked the real development that LVB displayed. IMO only Wagner ever showed any real development after Beethoven

We are going to be great friends, you and I.

[Harry]

I think Rod Corkin has a few things to say about that.....

[MN Dave]

I think Rod Corkin has a few things to say about that.....

I'm sorry. LvB has never heard of Rod Corkin.

[Josquin des Prez]

Late Beethoven > pretty much everything in the western canon, or any other canon for that matter. There are exceptions, but they are few in between.

Wait, what? 

[karlhenning]

Well, just set me down for the Respectful Opposition.

In principle, though, I stand ready to applaud a whole lotta Beethoven.

[MN Dave]

Karl,

Now you didn't think this was subjective, did you?

[(poco) Sforzando]

Late Beethoven > pretty much everything in the western canon, or any other canon for that matter. There are exceptions, but they are few in between.

In general, I find these rankings silly, but with regard to late Beethoven and especially the final quartets, I pretty much agree with you.

[MN Dave]

In general, I find these rankings silly, but with regard to late Beethoven and especially the final quartets, I pretty much agree with you.

Yes, this thread was not meant to be taken seriously.

...But seriously, it's how I feel most of the time.

[karlhenning]

Yes, this thread was not meant to be taken seriously.

...But seriously, it's how I feel most of the time.

Both points, just as I thought 

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Although choosing between acknowledged geniuses is a futile exercise - Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Wagner are all glorious in their own way - I do think Beethoven is the greatest in the sense that he shows total mastery AND continuous exploration. This ever-evolving oeuvre, in its humanity, and with its myriad solutions to countless structural problems, is without parallel in music. Mature Wagner comes near, but is narrower. In literature only Shakespeare is his equal, who shows the same astonishing ability.

So - yes, all other composers are inferior to Beethoven. You may have meant it humorously, but it is what I have concluded for myself, too. Which doesn't mean that Beethoven contains all the music I love. For some sensations I have to turn to other composers. But taken as a whole, Beethoven's work stands alone.

[Sergeant Rock]

My unprentending love's the B flat major
by the old Budapest done
                      John Berryman, "Beethoven Triumphant"


I concur. Ludwig van rules.

Sarge

[Don]

This must be a Beethoven love-fest.  I thinki it's more reasonable to say that some other composers stand tall next to Beethoven - he would hate to be alone.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I think it's more reasonable to say that some other composers stand tall next to Beethoven - he would hate to be alone.

I agree with the first part, but I don't know about the second (I'll have to ask him).

[MN Dave]

This must be a Beethoven love-fest.  I thinki it's more reasonable to say that some other composers stand tall next to Beethoven - he would hate to be alone.

We are not being reasonable today, Don. Yes, other composers may now approach and kiss the ring.

[Don]

I agree with the first part, but I don't know about the second (I'll have to ask him).

But I already did.

[Cato]

The following suggestion is for those who might be somewhat spiritually meditative,and even for those whose spiritual meditations means perusing the bottle labels down at Clancy's:

Read the magnificent description of Beethoven's last Piano Sonata #32, Opus 111 in Thomas Mann's highly musical novel Doctor        Faustus.

Then listen to the work, especially as played by old Wilhelm Kempff.

Or vice-versa!

You might actually believe the name of this topic!