Favorite French Composers Poll

[Hector]

Very difficult to select five from your list, however, I will offer five that have impressed me in recent years:

Widor;
Tournemire;
Pierne;
Farrenc;
Dupre.

I regret leaving off Onslow, Ropartz, Canteloube and Guilmant. Come to think of it the latters first symphony, alone, could put him above Dupre in my affections.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Considering that  one of his claims to fame was his mastery of orchestral color (and innovations in large scale structure) that seems a bit............hrm..............lacking.

That said; the late violin sonata is a fabulous work. The Piano trio I've never heard. Despite listening to a lot of Debussy over the years, I wasn't even aware of it. 

I have no problem with you preferring Rameau. In fact he is an absolutely marvellous composer, and one cannot like what one doesn't know. There are composers in this poll I don't know well myself. But we all have to be careful about making statements about greatness (greater than); your knowledge about Debussy compares to the knowledge of Monet by one who has only seen a couple of charcoal drawings. The mature Debussy orchestral works are a fine experience which you shouldn't miss!

The Piano Trio is listed as "L.3" in the Debussy catalog. It was probably written around the time that he was pianist for Madame von Meck's (of Tchaikovsky fame) personal trio. Considering that even such delightful early works as Pour le Piano and the String Quartet aren't fully characteristic of Debussy's most personal manner, it seems unjust to judge Debussy on such an incomplete basis. Debussy's orchestral works are something very special, but then again so are his mature piano works as well. I would say that unless one knows at least the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, the Piano Preludes, Images, Estampes, and Etudes, Pelleas et Melisande, La Mer, the Images for Orchestra, the three late chamber sonatas, and Jeux, one doesn't know Debussy.

[pjme]

Correct!

And it applies to all composers ofcourse : listen, explore, learn, read. take time.....go to concerts,when possible.  0:)

[71 dB]

I would say that unless one knows at least the Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, the Piano Preludes, Images, Estampes, and Etudes, Pelleas et Melisande, La Mer, the Images for Orchestra, the three late chamber sonatas, and Jeux, one doesn't know Debussy.

First of all, I was surprised myself I have only 2 works by Debussy. I thought I had more. Secondly, I do know Faun, of course. I have it recorded on a VHS cassette but I haven't played it for years (I don't use VHS anymore). I think I have heard La Mer and Images too (whatever was on that Naxos CD I borrowed 10 years ago...) I could always buy more Debussy but I want to explore many other composers too. Many of the composers in this poll are completely unknown to me!

[The new erato]

I could always buy more Debussy but I want to explore many other composers too. Many of the composers in this poll are completely unknown to me!

Curiosity is a good thing. But one has tio have a balance between the masters and the exploration of new territory. Not easy to achieve.

[Lady Chatterley]

No Lalo,no Lekeu?

[BachQ]

Hard to fathom: a French poll without Lalo ..........

[Don]

No Lalo,no Lekeu?

Frankly, I'm getting tired of folks complaining about the particular names not on these types of lists.  If you don't find the list satisfactory, just do your own.

[Don]

Don't fret it Don, it's not worth it...instructions were given at the beginning that if a name wasnt there, just vote "other" & include the unlisted name(s) their reply, many have did just that. No problems.

Right.  I'm just in a pissy mood after finding that I'll have to pay for the repairs to the roof leak at my home.  I was expecting free repair to the roof cover, but it turns out that the stucco is the problem.

[71 dB]

Curiosity is a good thing. But one has tio have a balance between the masters and the exploration of new territory. Not easy to achieve.

Thanks to exploration I have found MY masters.

[pjme]

And....hmm..Guillaume Lekeu is Belgian....( even if he lived and studied in France)



Lekeu monument in Verviers   



Lekeu's grave

[BachQ]

And....hmm..Guillaume Lekeu is Belgian....( even if he lived and studied in France)

Same with Franck ........ but that doesn't stop him from being French ........

[The new erato]

Thanks to exploration I have found MY masters.

How can you say that when you admit not having heard the major Debussy works? Or major works by other masters? Are  youl istening to music in seek of confirmation of yourself and your established opinions, or of discovery/new experiences/learning?

Totally wrong attitude IMO.

[71 dB]

How can you say that when you admit not having heard the major Debussy works? Or major works by other masters? Are  youl istening to music in seek of confirmation of yourself and your established opinions, or of discovery/new experiences/learning?

Totally wrong attitude IMO.

Wrong attitude? What? I hear samples of music. Some of these samples get me interested. I start to explore and usually find music/artists/composers I like. What is wrong about this? Yes, I have not heard ALL major works by Debussy but I have heard some (e.g. Faun). I am open-minded and I constantly seek new territories. At the moment I am exploring Tangerine Dream's electronic music. I don't read from the books who are the "official" masters according to the music history. I want to figure that out myself because I am not an idiot. That's why I speak for neglected composers like Dittersdorf, Bruhns, Weckmann, Fasch, Graupner, Hasse, Taneyev,...

[The new erato]

I don't mean you should read who are the mastera from books. Who are the masters to you are your decision. But I think you shall discover new masters continually by listening to new stuff, instead of deciding on a list of "masters" already, which is the impression your previous post gave. 

[71 dB]

I don't mean you should read who are the mastera from books. Who are the masters to you are your decision. But I think you shall discover new masters continually by listening to new stuff, instead of deciding on a list of "masters" already, which is the impression your previous post gave. 

Oh, I definitely keep exploring new stuff.  Perhaps more Debussy in the near future...

[(poco) Sforzando]

Wrong attitude? What? I hear samples of music. Some of these samples get me interested. I start to explore and usually find music/artists/composers I like. What is wrong about this? Yes, I have not heard ALL major works by Debussy but I have heard some (e.g. Faun). I am open-minded and I constantly seek new territories. At the moment I am exploring Tangerine Dream's electronic music. I don't read from the books who are the "official" masters according to the music history. I want to figure that out myself because I am not an idiot. That's why I speak for neglected composers like Dittersdorf, Bruhns, Weckmann, Fasch, Graupner, Hasse, Taneyev,...

Neglected figures are generally neglected for good reason. Accepted figures are generally accepted for good reason as well. Occasionally there are reputations that deserve to rise or fall, but by and large the accepted canon of great composers is a pretty amazing body of fine art. There's nothing wrong with pursuing lesser known composers once in a while, but if your sights are set no higher than Taneyev and Dittersdorf, how will you be aware of a superlative achievement like Debussy's La Mer? This is not a matter of being open-minded or not; rather it is a matter of exploring what other knowledgeable individuals before you have already singled out as the most original and remarkable achievements in the art. Why deny yourself these experiences?

[Don]

Neglected figures are generally neglected for good reason. Accepted figures are generally accepted for good reason as well. Occasionally there are reputations that deserve to rise or fall, but by and large the accepted canon of great composers is a pretty amazing body of fine art. There's nothing wrong with pursuing lesser known composers once in a while, but if your sights are set no higher than Taneyev and Dittersdorf, how will you be aware of a superlative achievement like Debussy's La Mer? This is not a matter of being open-minded or not; rather it is a matter of exploring what other knowledgeable individuals before you have already singled out as the most original and remarkable achievements in the art. Why deny yourself these experiences?

I wish you hadn't lumped Taneyev and Dittersdorf together.  I find Taneyev a rather special composer, while Dittersdorf is only mildly interesting.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I wish you hadn't lumped Taneyev and Dittersdorf together.  I find Taneyev a rather special composer, while Dittersdorf is only mildly interesting.

Change Taneyev to any 2nd or 3rd rater of your choice. (And if you have anything "special" by Taneyev you'd like to point out, I'm all ears.) My point was more that the above poster seems to be deliberately going out of his way to avoid what he calls the "official" masters, apparently to prove his own uniqueness of viewpoint.

As for me, well - look, I'm close to 60 years old. I may have 20-30 years left, I may have 5 or 10. I want to spend that time with composers who matter. Unless I find good reason to think "Dittersdorf, Bruhns, Weckmann, Fasch, Graupner, Hasse, Taneyev" et al. are pursuing, I'll stick with Beethoven, Debussy, Bach, and Brahms.

[71 dB]

Neglected figures are generally neglected for good reason. Accepted figures are generally accepted for good reason as well.

Often yes but not always.

Occasionally there are reputations that deserve to rise or fall, but by and large the accepted canon of great composers is a pretty amazing body of fine art. There's nothing wrong with pursuing lesser known composers once in a while, but if your sights are set no higher than Taneyev and Dittersdorf, how will you be aware of a superlative achievement like Debussy's La Mer? This is not a matter of being open-minded or not; rather it is a matter of exploring what other knowledgeable individuals before you have already singled out as the most original and remarkable achievements in the art. Why deny yourself these experiences?

Debussy's La Mer might be superlative for you but maybe I have different taste? I find Debussy lacking rhythm while I adore Taneyev's skill in counterpoint. I don't completely trust individuals before me. I trust myself. I don't deny experiences from myself if I don't even know they exist. Sorry, but I find you patronising and arrogant trying to deny my enjoyment of music.