GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => Composer Discussion => Topic started by: Boris_G on July 11, 2007, 12:20:32 PM

Poll
Question: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Option 1: Karlheinz Stockhausen
Option 2: HK Gruber
Option 3: Joseph Haydn
Option 4: Nena
Option 5: Johann Strauss II
Option 6: Meyerbeer
Option 7: Peter Tchaikovsky
Option 8: Carl Orff
Title: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Boris_G on July 11, 2007, 12:20:32 PM
Impressed with the Elgar vs Handel death match, I thought it would be interesting to see which of the above our more knowledgeable posters would pick as representative of the 'land of music'.  ;)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 12:58:44 PM
Where the beedubaya is Beethoven?

And I'm sick of these goddamn threads. Must we pick the absolute greatest artist from every country? Do we really need to compare them, find the best one? What's the purpose? Who's going to stop listening to the "inferior" composers after voting? This is like asking people "What's the best food ever invented" or "what's the best book ever written". It's immaturity and absurdity of the question alone is astoundingly foolish. Not to mention there will be a shitload of crap posted following the initial post.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 11, 2007, 01:14:36 PM
PDQ Bach
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Brian on July 11, 2007, 01:46:02 PM
I think a mining engineer's son from Votkinsk would like to have a word with you about the definition of "German".
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Mozart on July 11, 2007, 01:50:37 PM
Quote"What's the best food ever invented"
Its foolish to ask such a question because the answer is obvious. Liver and onions...duh :)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Tancata on July 11, 2007, 01:52:23 PM
Awesome poll  :D.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 02:33:49 PM
Quote from: Mozart on July 11, 2007, 01:50:37 PM
Its foolish to ask such a question because the answer is obvious. Liver and onions...duh :)

The folks at North Korea wouldn't agree, however. dog meat FTW!
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: scottscheule on July 11, 2007, 05:13:03 PM
Quote from: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 12:58:44 PM
Where the beedubaya is Beethoven?

And I'm sick of these goddamn threads. Must we pick the absolute greatest artist from every country? Do we really need to compare them, find the best one? What's the purpose? Who's going to stop listening to the "inferior" composers after voting? This is like asking people "What's the best food ever invented" or "what's the best book ever written". It's immaturity and absurdity of the question alone is astoundingly foolish. Not to mention there will be a shitload of crap posted following the initial post.

Case and point.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 11, 2007, 07:00:43 PM
hey, maybe Boris_G is actually parodying another thread, a thread started by M? not a very good one, but you got to give him the credit for trying.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Steve on July 11, 2007, 07:13:33 PM
Quote from: scottscheule on July 11, 2007, 05:13:03 PM
Case and point.

With the inclusion of 'Nena' in the poll, you must be able to discern that this is a pointed parody of the other thread.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 07:55:40 PM
Since when is Tschaikovsky and Strauss German?

I thought we are done with those mindless 'Best' 'Greatest' et al threads?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 11, 2007, 07:58:45 PM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 07:55:40 PM
Since when is Tschaikovsky and Strauss German?

I thought we are done with those mindless 'Best' 'Greatest' et al threads?


I was waiting for someone to notice ...  ;D
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 08:08:36 PM
Quote from: Soundproof on July 11, 2007, 07:58:45 PM
I was waiting for someone to notice ...  ;D

I can't believe Carl Orff is on the list too. Isn't he a one-hit-wonder composer?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: FideLeo on July 11, 2007, 08:09:52 PM
Heinrich Schutz.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: not edward on July 11, 2007, 08:16:28 PM
He Schutz! He scores!
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 08:45:40 PM
Quote from: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 08:08:36 PM
I can't believe Carl Orff is on the list too. Isn't he a one-hit-wonder composer?

Maybe you could spend some time becoming better acquainted with Carl Orff.  :)
I have ten of his compositions in my collection, and that's certainly not a complete collection.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 09:03:11 PM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 08:45:40 PM
Maybe you could spend some time becoming better acquainted with Carl Orff.  :)
I have ten of his compositions in my collection, and that's certainly not a complete collection.

Thanks but no thanks, I have 10000 more meaningful composers (to me) on my list  ;)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 11, 2007, 09:05:04 PM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 08:45:40 PM
Maybe you could spend some time becoming better acquainted with Carl Orff.  :)
I have ten of his compositions in my collection, and that's certainly not a complete collection.

Yes, but how many points do we deduct because of Carmina Burana?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 09:11:35 PM
Ninety?

But the other ten percent are very special, unfortunately overshadowed by the Carminas. I admit I have about ten versions of it!  ;)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: PSmith08 on July 11, 2007, 10:30:30 PM
Quote from: Bonehelm on July 11, 2007, 08:08:36 PM
I can't believe Carl Orff is on the list too. Isn't he a one-hit-wonder composer?

Apparently, you've never heard De temporum fine comoedia.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 11, 2007, 10:44:58 PM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 11, 2007, 07:55:40 PM
Since when is Tschaikovsky and Strauss German?

Strauss was German. He was from Munich.

I voted Nena, of course, because one of my first girlfriends in the 80s looked and talked like Nena. Actually, a lot of German grils back then looked and talked like Nena. Which is strange because Nena was from West Germany but she had a distinct Berlin accent. Maybe she adopted that because she wanted to be more cool. Which being from Berlin certainly is (see me for a good example).
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: val on July 12, 2007, 01:08:02 AM
Since Tchaikovsky is on the list of the greatest German composer, I would vote for Manuel de Falla. After all, he quotes Beethoven's 5th Symphony in his ballet Der Dreispitz, also known in the Spanish translation "Sombrero de tres picos" (and they that German words are too long!).

By the way, my Italian favorite composer is Giovanni Bachi. And since I referred to Spain, my favorite Spanish composer is El Señor Eduardo Elgar (OLÉ!). 

One more thing: who is NENA?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 01:55:42 AM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 11, 2007, 10:30:30 PM
Apparently, you've never heard De temporum fine comoedia.

And I'm sure a lot more would have if he'd dropped the Latin. I mean, it premiered in 1973, the man had been dead for a year and I guess his publicist just thought he was out of time.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:04:14 AM
Sorry to disappoint you, but Orff still had 19 years to live at that time.


Quote from: val on July 12, 2007, 01:08:02 AM
One more thing: who is NENA?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztYSlNazJno
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:14:58 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:04:14 AM
Sorry to disappoint you, but Orff still had 19 years to live at that time.

You mean nine? Ah, this is so easy. Bitte - biete -bait.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:03:14 AM
Isn't 1982-1973=19?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: BachQ on July 12, 2007, 04:12:23 AM
Haydn = Austrian
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:14:17 AM
How come Haydn referred to himself specifically as German composer then?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: BachQ on July 12, 2007, 04:19:30 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:14:17 AM
How come Haydn referred to himself specifically as German composer then?

Haydn was born in Rohrau, Lower Austria (near Hungarian border).
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:20:42 AM
That didn't answer my question.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: BachQ on July 12, 2007, 04:27:26 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:20:42 AM
That didn't answer my question.

Q: How come Haydn referred to himself specifically as German composer then?

A: He confused himself with JS Bach ........
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 06:09:42 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 04:20:42 AM
That didn't answer my question.

Actually, and this is meant in earnestness M, don't you think the reference was to Germanic culture and ethnicity? With the hodge-podge of "nations" and nation-states, duchies and all that constituted the Teuton culture at the time, Wien became a seat for that culture, attracting adherents from many parts of the empire, and from outside its borders.

Our present day "obsession" with national identity would not have been felt in the same manner back then, where people of good standing could become a part of new cultures through contributions that assisted those cultures. Consider all who gravitated to St. Petersburg and the court there; or the free for all that the Swedish Court became. Many who went to Russia or Sweden became assimilated Russians and Swedes, in spite of quite foreign sounding names.
The present penchant for ascribing national identity to many of these would have been seen as quaint then. Just consider how many times the maps have been redrawn since Haydn's time, and since the fall of K&K.

Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Hector on July 12, 2007, 06:21:08 AM
Is that what we are going to get on this site from now on, one brainless, witless thread after another?

Tchaikovsky a great German composer? Oh, stop it, I am wetting myself with laughter... :-[
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 06:23:34 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 11, 2007, 10:44:58 PM
Strauss was German. He was from Munich.


Quoting The New Grove: Johann (Baptist) Strauss (ii) (b Vienna, 25 Oct 1825; d Vienna, 3 June 1899)  :P
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 06:39:29 AM
So the "New Grove" does not know how to spell composers' names properly?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Larry Rinkel on July 12, 2007, 06:59:23 AM
Quote from: Hector on July 12, 2007, 06:21:08 AM
Is that what we are going to get on this site from now on, one brainless, witless thread after another?

You just figured that out?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 07:02:23 AM
Yes, Hector, hasn't it always been like that? Thank M there is now Mystery Orchestra (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,2066.0.html) where the real discussions and the real listening happens.

BTW, Mr Rinkel, did you see I added two more clips (E and F)?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: quintett op.57 on July 12, 2007, 09:07:47 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 11, 2007, 10:44:58 PM
Strauss was German. He was from Munich.
I'm not sure you're passionate enough about this thread
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 09:56:06 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 06:39:29 AM
So the "New Grove" does not know how to spell composers' names properly?

What do you mean? You listed Johann Strauss II in your poll as German. I looked his name up in my New Groves and copied their entry to the letter.  ::)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 12, 2007, 09:59:28 AM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 09:56:06 AM
What do you mean? You listed Johann Strauss II in your poll as German. I looked his name up in my New Groves and copied their entry to the letter.  ::)

I am confused too, which one was M referring to? J.Strauss II the waltz king? Richard Strauss? but Richard Strauss wasn't even in the poll.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 10:10:54 AM
There is only one Johann Strauss II, born in Vienna, commonly ref. to as The Waltz King.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: johnshade on July 12, 2007, 10:25:09 AM
This is the greatest German composer:
(http://www.berria.info/zinemaldia06/argazkiak/zinemargaz46.jpg)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 12, 2007, 10:38:54 AM
Quote from: johnshade on July 12, 2007, 10:25:09 AM
This is the greatest German composer:
(http://www.berria.info/zinemaldia06/argazkiak/zinemargaz46.jpg)

Ed Harris?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 10:46:41 AM
Quote from: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 10:10:54 AM
There is only one Johann Strauss II, born in Vienna, commonly ref. to as The Waltz King.

Are you referring to Johann Strauß maybe?

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Johann_Strauss_II.jpg/180px-Johann_Strauss_II.jpg)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 12, 2007, 10:51:50 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 10:46:41 AM
Are you referring to Johann Strauß maybe?

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Johann_Strauss_II.jpg/180px-Johann_Strauss_II.jpg)

ooooo.... you can type German... ooooo how impressive... i guess "StrauSS" is wrong then.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: johnshade on July 12, 2007, 11:07:28 AM
~
The truly Bavarian Strauss, Richard (and he spelled it Strauss).
(http://www.maurice-abravanel.com/318strauss_at_time_first_composition.jpg)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 11:15:13 AM
Quote from: johnshade on July 12, 2007, 11:07:28 AM
~
The truly Bavarian Strauss, Richard (and he spelled it Strauss).
(http://www.maurice-abravanel.com/318strauss_at_time_first_composition.jpg)

He actually did. The ß wasn't used uniformly through German speaking territories, and some preferred the double-s.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 11:18:44 AM
Quote from: johnshade on July 12, 2007, 10:25:09 AM
This is the greatest German composer:
(http://www.berria.info/zinemaldia06/argazkiak/zinemargaz46.jpg)

I want the time this film took from my life back!!! It is incomprehensibly bad - and also steals freely from other films of the genre, including Amadeus. (An outright theft is the composing scene: "Do you have it?" "Yes, yes, I have it!" (Schaeffer should get royalties).

Worst of all were the somewhat clunky references to B's deafness.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 12, 2007, 11:23:13 AM
Quote from: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 11:18:44 AM
I want the time this film took from my life back!!! It is incomprehensibly bad - and also steals freely from other films of the genre, including Amadeus. (An outright theft is the composing scene: "Do you have it?" "Yes, yes, I have it!" (Schaeffer should get royalties).

Worst of all were the somewhat clunky references to B's deafness.

The most ridiculous part was that it seemed Beethoven wasn't completely deaf, he can actually HEAR depend upon the situation (with the most ridiculous looking hearing-aid ever).
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 11:25:53 AM
Quote from: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 11:18:44 AM
I want the time this film took from my life back!!! It is incomprehensibly bad - and also steals freely from other films of the genre, including Amadeus. (An outright theft is the composing scene: "Do you have it?" "Yes, yes, I have it!" (Schaeffer should get royalties).

Worst of all were the somewhat clunky references to B's deafness.

I think I actually downloaded this from the binary newsgroups but never watched it know somebody who has the DVD so I could borrow it, but I am not eally interested in hearing Beethoven speak English. That's a little bizarre. Like in Germany, they dub all the movies, so you can hear Bruce Willis speak German. That's pretty bizarre, too.

Who is Schaeffer?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: SKALKOTTAS on July 12, 2007, 12:20:12 PM
tchaikovksy? lol! hehe :) in my opinion is beethoven! the greatest of all, MOZART.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 01:18:07 PM
Schaeffer wrote the original play Amadeus, from which the scriptwriters for Copying Beethoven have stolen freely.

And trust me (yes, I know that's a stretch) you do not want to waste time on this film. The opening alone will have you heaving out the window.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 01:26:18 PM
Schaeffer?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 02:25:23 PM
He-he. You're right. Shaffer.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 02:32:18 PM
That's easy for me to remember because that's my name (except I still have the C between the S and H).
I just needed to get back at you for finding the mistake in my complex calculation 1982-1973=19. I worked that out on paper in the meantime (poooohhh), and it is indeed only 9, not 19.
The original result was spit out by my high end $1000 calculating machine which has been blind tested by some world famous mathematicians (who however prefer to remain anonymous) and they found it calculates with more punch and feel than comparable other calculating machines. How could this mistake happen?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 02:47:06 PM
The greatest German composer, ever, is a task. Chiefly because there are such a lot to choose from, which is to the credit of German musical tradition. My life would be poorer without their contribution.

Who to pick as the greatest really doesn't get my blood going. I'm just enjoying them. Including the fact that a lot of the guys who faded away are being resurrected now - there's a lot of good music to look forward to hearing for the first time yet.

I only found out about Kalkbrenner last year, for instance. And the sheer joy of putting an interesting piano concerto I had never heard before into my CD-player was pretty good stuff.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 02:49:01 PM
If you want to discover a good German composer who is still very little known, check out Hartmann.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:03:46 PM
I'll follow up on that. Have none of his music in my collection ...

BTW - "Toll. Es war blödsinnig eine von Tills Wanderkarten zu vertrauen."
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:06:56 PM
Why Till?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Larry Rinkel on July 12, 2007, 03:17:07 PM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 07:02:23 AM
BTW, Mr Rinkel, did you see I added two more clips (E and F)?

I did. I will listen to them after dinner.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:17:58 PM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:06:56 PM
Why Till?

Reference to Till Eulenspiegel - given to tricks ...
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:25:55 PM
That's not such a good idea because that's not really the kind of prank Till E. played. It also sounds too forcedly "educated".

Quote from: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:03:46 PM
BTW - "Toll. Es war blödsinnig eine von Tills Wanderkarten zu vertrauen."

Better: Na toll.
Or: Klasse.

But nothing beats: Scheisse.

"Es war blödsinnig, einer von Tills Wanderkarten zu vertrauen"

sounds way too artificial and wooden, too. Especially "blödsinnig" and "vertrauen". Too formal in this context.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: mahlertitan on July 12, 2007, 03:26:14 PM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 02:49:01 PM
If you want to discover a good German composer who is still very little known, check out Hartmann.

Karl Amadeus?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Sergeant Rock on July 12, 2007, 03:27:52 PM
It pleases me that Nena is tied for first place. 99 Luftballons is a classic if anything is, and Nena is the cutest composer on the list too which earrns her extra points.

Sarge
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:33:10 PM
Quote from: M forever on July 12, 2007, 03:25:55 PM
That's not such a good idea because that's not really the kind of prank Till E. played. It also sounds too forcedly "educated".

Better: Na toll.
Or: Klasse.

But nothing beats: Scheisse.

"Es war blödsinnig, einer von Tills Wanderkarten zu vertrauen"

sounds way too artificial and wooden, too. Especially "blödsinnig" and "vertrauen". Too formal in this context.

There you go. Intellectual jokes usually buzz straight over the heads of the audience.

Na toll is better.

So, which of Hartmann's works should I commence with?
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: BachQ on July 12, 2007, 03:36:34 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on July 12, 2007, 03:27:52 PM
It pleases me that Nena is tied for first place.

Now in 1st place ........
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: uffeviking on July 12, 2007, 03:37:05 PM
Quote from: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:03:46 PM
I'll follow up on that. Have none of his music in my collection ...


Maybe for a starter try his Concerto funebre! Vladimir Spivakov is good with his Moscow Virtuosi on RCA.  :)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Sergeant Rock on July 12, 2007, 03:58:22 PM
Quote from: val on July 12, 2007, 01:08:02 AM
One more thing: who is NENA?

German pop singer (and also the name of her band). Had a worldwide hit in 1984 with 99 Luftballons.

(http://www.drjazz.ch/album/bilder/Nena02_0002.jpg)

Sarge
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Mark on July 12, 2007, 03:58:59 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on July 12, 2007, 03:58:22 PM
German pop singer (and also the name of her band). Had a worldwide hit in 1984 with 99 Luftballons.

(http://www.drjazz.ch/album/bilder/Nena02_0002.jpg)

Sarge

WOOF!
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: S709 on July 12, 2007, 04:56:39 PM
The Greatest German Composer is: Mathias Spahlinger, of course!!

Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: PSmith08 on July 12, 2007, 06:00:03 PM
I'm pretty sure (i.e., positive) that Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig. Saxony, I think, was pretty much independent until the Congress of Vienna, when Prussia got a chunk of land in a weird settlement resulting from Napoleon's war with Friedrich Wilhelm III.

German composers, though, are too diverse to attempt to put a "best" on them. Of the choices: Nena. She's up there with Falco in my book. Karlheinz Stockhausen never had such a radio-friendly hit, though I frequently hear parts from Boulez' Marteau whistled by schoolchildren. And what college party wouldn't be complete without a drunken Pli selon pli scream-along?

Nena makes me wish I'd taken German in high school, instead of four years of Latin. And then two (technically, three) semesters in college.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: not edward on July 12, 2007, 06:44:41 PM
Quote from: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 03:33:10 PM
There you go. Intellectual jokes usually buzz straight over the heads of the audience.

Na toll is better.

So, which of Hartmann's works should I commence with?
Three options stand out for me: the Concerto funebre (several recordings are available, my favourite is probably Gertler and Ancerl), the 2nd symphony (my own introduction to the composer) or the blockbuster 6th (Fricsay's recording with the RIAS Berlin orchestra is both cheap and IMO seriously awesome, though other posters here prefer Leitner).

Anyone heard the new Naxos recording of the Piano Sonata 27 April 1945? I hope it doesn't stink. ;)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Lethevich on July 12, 2007, 08:23:57 PM
After careful deliberation, I choose Alfred Schnittke.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Soundproof on July 12, 2007, 11:18:37 PM
Quote from: Lethe on July 12, 2007, 08:23:57 PM
After careful deliberation, I choose Alfred Schnittke.

With Haydn a la Moz-Art, you could be said to be covering your bases with that choice.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 12, 2007, 11:58:34 PM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 12, 2007, 06:00:03 PM
I'm pretty sure (i.e., positive) that Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig. Saxony, I think, was pretty much independent until the Congress of Vienna, when Prussia got a chunk of land in a weird settlement resulting from Napoleon's war with Friedrich Wilhelm III.

I wouldn't say "independent" since Sachsen (Saxony) was in principle not any more or less independent than any other German state in the constantly changing political configuration of the German states. Although Preussen (Prussia) took indeed a large bite out of Sachsen at the Congress of Vienna and later became the German state under whose leadership the "2nd Empire" was created, Preussen isn't necessarily to be equated with "Germany", so another state's relationship with Preussen can not really be described as "independent" or not - at least until 1870/71, when many of the German states saw themselves as pretty much "dependent" on Preussen. But even then Preussen was more a leader among a number of diverse German states than "Germany itself". The local monarchs stayed in place even though they didn't have that much more to say anymore, the only exception was Bayern (Bavaria) which wasn't at all "independent" either, but they had a special status, for instance, they kept their own army (which was the army that Hitler joined in 1914).
But I think Leipzig stayed part of Sachsen even after the Congress of Vienna anyway.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: Greta on July 13, 2007, 12:16:18 AM
I vote Wagner.  ;D
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: knight66 on July 13, 2007, 02:27:32 AM
I have just ordered the Hartmann 6th....a voyage awaits.

Mike
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: BachQ on July 13, 2007, 03:08:18 AM
After careful deliberation, I opt for Glinka .........
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 13, 2007, 03:33:33 AM
Quote from: MahlerTitan on July 12, 2007, 03:26:14 PM
Karl Amadeus?

Yes, Karl Amadeus. There is also a composer named Erich Hartmann who happens to have been my first bass teacher, longtime member of the BP bass section and also an accomplished composer who wrote some nice pieces for bass, but I think K.A.Hartmann might be more interesting for most people here in this context.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: not edward on July 13, 2007, 05:42:12 AM
Quote from: knight on July 13, 2007, 02:27:32 AM
I have just ordered the Hartmann 6th....a voyage awaits.

Mike
Let us know what you think: this is one of the pieces of music I'm tempted to get evangelical over. ;)
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: knight66 on July 13, 2007, 06:49:34 AM
I ordered the Fricsay version. The CD cover does not suggest a coupling, though other versions do have pairings. Is there something else on the disc?


Mike
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 13, 2007, 06:59:38 AM
According to the DG website, it also contains a symphony by Fortner and the Paganini variations by Blacher. Who were two interesting and not so well known German composers, too, BTW.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: knight66 on July 13, 2007, 07:06:53 AM
Thanks, I saw on Amazon Blacher's name listed against the disc, but no further detail and thought it might be Boris Blacher.

Mike
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: M forever on July 13, 2007, 07:11:58 AM
There is also his son Kolja who is a well know musician, too, but I don't think he composes. He is a violinist. Throughout most of the Abbado era, he was one of the BP's concert masters.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: not edward on July 13, 2007, 07:58:17 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 13, 2007, 06:59:38 AM
According to the DG website, it also contains a symphony by Fortner and the Paganini variations by Blacher. Who were two interesting and not so well known German composers, too, BTW.
It has the finale of the Fortner symphony and the finale of Hartmann's 4th, plus the whole of the Blacher.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: S709 on July 13, 2007, 08:39:31 AM
Quote from: M forever on July 13, 2007, 06:59:38 AM
According to the DG website, it also contains a symphony by Fortner and the Paganini variations by Blacher. Who were two interesting and not so well known German composers, too, BTW.

Indeed, Fortner and Blacher are well worth investigating. I especially like Blacher's trumpet concerto and piano concertos.
Title: Re: Who's the greatest German composer ever?
Post by: knight66 on July 13, 2007, 09:23:35 AM
Quote from: edward on July 13, 2007, 07:58:17 AM
It has the finale of the Fortner symphony and the finale of Hartmann's 4th, plus the whole of the Blacher.

Sounds like an odd programme, but I am looking forward to it.

Mike