6 favourite v 6 greatest composers

[Bulldog]

Greatest:
(The list requires diversity of genre which, sadly, leaves out Bruckner and Mahler; a few otherwise worthy contenders are left out too.)

I can't go along with the diversity requirement, because a few composers were so compelling in their specialty that to leave them out of the great category would be unreasonable.  Al already mentioned Bruckner and Mahler; Wagner and Chopin apply as well.

[jwinter]

My six current favorites, based on time in my CD player/iPod:  Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Mozart, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky

Six greats:  Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Haydn, Mozart.

Six dislikes:  There aren't six.  There are several that on first or second listen did not appeal to me, but in none of those cases have I gone back and listened to enough of their music to form a really solid opinion.  There are still too many composers that grabbed me from the start and that I'm still exploring -- too much music, too little time.

[mn dave]

I tallied the faves (because I'm such a nice guy). If someone picked seven (because there was a "tie"), then I dropped off the last one. Composers with only one vote are not listed.

13 votes - Beethoven

10 votes - Brahms

9 votes - Mahler

8 votes - Bruckner and Mozart

7 votes - Bach

6 votes - Sibelius

4 votes - Haydn and Schubert

3 votes - Brian, Chopin, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams and Wagner

2 votes - Atterburg, Bartok, Copland, Delius, Elgar, Handel, Ligeti, Medtner, Nielsen, Norgard, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Webern

[Dundonnell]

Well done and Thank You for doing this

[mn dave]

Well done and Thank You for doing this

You're welcome.

[vandermolen]

I tallied the faves (because I'm such a nice guy). If someone picked seven (because there was a "tie"), then I dropped off the last one. Composers with only one vote are not listed.

13 votes - Beethoven

10 votes - Brahms

9 votes - Mahler

8 votes - Bruckner and Mozart

7 votes - Bach

6 votes - Sibelius

4 votes - Haydn and Schubert

3 votes - Brian, Chopin, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams and Wagner

2 votes - Atterburg, Bartok, Copland, Delius, Elgar, Handel, Ligeti, Medtner, Nielsen, Norgard, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, Schumann, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Webern

As I started this thread, a big thank you from me too.

[mn dave]

As I started this thread, a big thank you from me too.

[karlhenning]

Well, at least Stravinsky got as many votes as Medtner 

[mn dave]

Who knew, about Atterburg and Norgard? 

[Kullervo]

Who knew, about Atterburg and Norgard? 

Nørgård is a well-kept secret.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Nørgård is a well-kept secret.

... whose Third I still must find time for. 

[The new erato]

Nørgård is a well-kept secret.

Atterburg took me slightly by surprise. Atterberg would be a slightly different proposition.

[Kullervo]

... whose Third I still must find time for. 

Everyone should find time for him. He should be at least as popular as Carter or Rihm (to name two popular living composers).

[Dundonnell]

Everyone should find time for him. He should be at least as popular as Carter or Rihm (to name two popular living composers).

Not universally popular, of course

[Sef]

Who knew, about Atterburg and Norgard? 

.... and I can't believe that this forum couldn't stump up one more vote for Pettersson!

[mn dave]

.... and I can't believe that this forum couldn't stump up one more vote for Pettersson!

Hm. He must have some stiff competition.

[greg]

Nørgård is a well-kept secret.

Same for Atterberg. 

[Sef]

Same for Atterberg. 

.... but at $30 for his 9 complete symphonies (no matter what you think of the 9th), there's no reason why he should be a secret. Just about the best value for money box set I've seen in a long while.

[Bulldog]

.... but at $30 for his 9 complete symphonies (no matter what you think of the 9th), there's no reason why he should be a secret. Just about the best value for money box set I've seen in a long while.

Even at $1 for the complete set, Atterberg would tend to be a secret.

[greg]

I would've payed $70 for that set if I had to.

Even at $1 for the complete set, Atterberg would tend to be a secret.

As I keep saying, it's because he's Swedish. They just have it hard.