6 favourite v 6 greatest composers

[vandermolen]

I take note of all the above comments and thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Actually I am finding it very interesting to see what people choose to listen to and what they consider great. From my point of view my list of great composers are those I consider to be great. I am not suggesting that they necessarily are the greatest composers.
For favourites I rather regret leaving off Arnold, Diamond and Brian.

As for disliked composers:

Richard Strauss
Mozart (although I respect the views of those who love his music)
Stockhausen (not that I know much of his music)
Gilbert and Sullivan
Maw (I find it pretentious but am prepared to change my mind)
Lutyens

[Dundonnell]

Because it is you, Jeffrey

Greatest:
   Beethoven
   Brahms
   Wagner
   Mahler
   Sibelius

Favourite:
   Bruckner
   Vaughan Williams
   Brian
   Rubbra
   Shostakovich

Who can't count up to six?

So...I shall add Mozart to Greatest and Carl Nielsen to Favourite lists

[Dundonnell]

I take note of all the above comments and thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Actually I am finding it very interesting to see what people choose to listen to and what they consider great. From my point of view my list of great composers are those I consider to be great. I am not suggesting that they necessarily are the greatest composers.
For favourites I rather regret leaving off Arnold, Diamond and Brian.

As for disliked composers:

Richard Strauss
Mozart (although I respect the views of those who love his music)
Stockhausen (not that I know much of his music)
Gilbert and Sullivan
Maw (I find it pretentious but am prepared to change my mind)
Lutyens

I shall not hold your dislike of the composer of the Alpine Symphony against you

[Bulldog]

You just think you dislike Dittersdorf. His music is very good but if you don't give him a change that's your loss. Sorry.

How do you know whether I've listened much to his music?  You don't.  I said I didn't like his music, and my opinion is based on hearing his symphonies and string quartets.  Once again, your assumptions are faulty.

[vandermolen]

Most of this work has been done for us.


I'm delighted that he's holding off on compiling the list until he's heard some Henning, though!

An excellent point Karl 

[Bulldog]

Preparing a list of greatest composers requires you to have listened to every work of every composer in history.

There is no such requirement except in your mind.

[vandermolen]

I shall not hold your dislike of the composer of the Alpine Symphony against you

OK Colin. As it's you I will listen to this work which is one of the few R Strauss pieces that I have on CD 

As for not being able to count up to six, remember that you were a History and not a Maths teacher 

[Dundonnell]

Disliked?

Debussy(apart from La Mer and Images)
Rachmaninov(except the 1st symphony and The Bells)
Delius(sorry, Johan)
Webern
Boulez

And I still can't count to six

[Dundonnell]

OK Colin. As it's you I will listen to this work which is one of the few R Strauss pieces that I have on CD 

As for not being able to count up to six, remember that you were a History and not a Maths teacher 

The passage where the climbers reach the summit is the very epitome of grandeur and over the top magnificence

Now...off out to dinner

[vandermolen]

The passage where the climbers reach the summit is the very epitome of grandeur and over the top magnificence

Now...off out to dinner

Have a nice time.

[Dundonnell]

Puccini then

[Dundonnell]

Have a nice time.

Thanks and goodbye

[71 dB]

Why do you say it when we all know that you don't believe it? The fanaticism you displayed for the music of Elgar betrays your prejudice.

My fanatism is no more and was a lackluster effort to compensate the fact that I feel so outnumbered. It is really frustrating to be almost alone with your opinions, believe me! I really like Elgar's music subjectively and I believe it is really good music objectively and nobody can deny what I feel/think, haha! 

[71 dB]

How do you know whether I've listened much to his music?  You don't.  I said I didn't like his music, and my opinion is based on hearing his symphonies and string quartets.  Once again, your assumptions are faulty.

Well, each to his own. I know it sounds weird to many but I prefer Dittersdorf symphonies and string quartets to those of Haydn. I just enjoy them! Beautiful melodies, good rhythmic structure, drive, energy, etc. Then there is Giob, oratorio. Just WONDERFUL music! I don't get why you don't like.

[Bulldog]

Well, each to his own. I know it sounds weird to many but I prefer Dittersdorf symphonies and string quartets to those of Haydn. I just enjoy them! Beautiful melodies, good rhythmic structure, drive, energy, etc. I don't get why you don't like.

I think I have the answer - different preferences.

[bwv 1080]

Greatest:
Dunstable
Josquin
Bach
Beethoven
Mahler
Stravinsky

Favorite:
Bach
Mozart
Schumann
Mahler
Dutilleux
Carter

[71 dB]

I think I have the answer - different preferences.

I'm proud of my preferences, very proud. That's why I write here. If I was ashamed I would be quiet. I am ashamed of many things but not my music preferences!

[The new erato]

There's not such thing as subjectivity in art. There is only truth, and either you get it, or you don't. Simple as that.

For most of us there is. And defining art to be only about truth, seems to me very questionable and definitely subjective (bin Laden's thruth is Bush's lie) - but leave that for another thread. Anyway, I strongly disagree.

[greg]

The greatest:

Bach
Mozart
Beethoven
Wagner
Haydn
Brahms

hehe looks like you got that list from a book.


If there is no subjectivity in art, then there must be a way to measure greatness other than the thoughts of humans, in the same way we can tell water is made up of two hydrogens and one oxygen (which doesn't involve opinion). Hm, I wonder how you'd do that?....

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Disliked?

Debussy(apart from La Mer and Images)
Rachmaninov(except the 1st symphony and The Bells)
Delius(sorry, Johan)
Webern
Boulez

And I still can't count to six

I fully accepted you aren't a Delian a long time ago, Colin.  0:)