GMG Classical Music Forum

Who is your favorite member of "Les Six"?

For me, the choice was easy: Honegger. Amongst the group, only Poulenc and Milhaud can hold a candle to him. He composed some lighter, more recognizably "French" works (e.g. Symphony no. 4, Pastorale d'ete and Une Cantate de Noel), but his best work is contained in his dark, turbulent (but not without uplifting moments) Symphonies 1-3 and 5 (not to say no. 4 isn't a good work), which demonstrate a master at work. Poulenc and Milhaud are fine composers, but their music doesn't leave me breathless at the end like Honegger's does. That said, I do get a lot of enjoyment from their music, especially Poulenc's. I love his Double PC, PC and Gloria. Tailleferre's music is nice but not particularly striking. Auric and Durey are pretty minor composers IMO. I've always wondered why Ibert wasn't a member instead of one of these two. He was a fantastic composer.

I imagine this poll will pretty much be a face-off between Poulenc and Honegger, but I could be wrong!

Honegger most definitely and he's one of my favorite composers (in my top 15 actually). Yes, he did compose some music that's not so serious and actually quite gorgeous in a traditionally beautiful way, but his WWII works such as Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3 have had a strong emotional impact on me and it's these war-torn works that I continue to come back to, but, all in all, he was a consistent composer that wasn't afraid to show his listeners the true underbelly of what war sounds like.

Poulenc, for his chamber music and gorgeous choral/vocal works.

Poulenc - chamber and solo piano.

Quote from: springrite on August 27, 2013, 06:44:16 PM
Poulenc, for his chamber music and gorgeous choral/vocal works.

Quote from: Sammy on August 27, 2013, 06:58:13 PM
Poulenc - chamber and solo piano.

Yeah, these.  8) and add his organ and piano concertos.



I'll admit I could use more time with Honneger, haven't listened enough to make a proper judgment. And have been getting into Milhaud the past few years, very good stuff so far. There's a chamber disc of Milhaud on Naxos I really like.

Really the top contenders in Les Six are Poulenc, Honegger, and Milhaud. The rest of them didn't do anything remotely worthwhile and/or didn't have a distinctive enough musical style to set them apart from their contemporaries.

Milhaud

Sarge

Don't really care for any of them.

Quote from: The Six on August 28, 2013, 07:31:24 PM
Don't really care for any of them.

Thanks for stopping by! ::)

I don't believe I've ever heard anything by Durey.

I'd have to go with Honegger based on quality of output in the genres I like.  Then Milhaud 2nd, and Poulenc a distant 3rd.

Milhaud often sounds rather like, well, generic Milhaud.  I hate saying that, because I love his music; it always gives me pleasure and elevates my mood.  I'd just have trouble telling many of his pieces apart in a randomized playlist.

I only have one recording of a piece by Tailleferre, her Ballade for Piano & Orchestra.  Quite good.

Quote from: Daverz on August 28, 2013, 07:49:21 PM
I don't believe I've ever heard anything by Durey.

I'd have to go with Honegger based on quality of output in the genres I like.  Then Milhaud 2nd, and Poulenc a distant 3rd.

Milhaud often sounds rather like, well, generic Milhaud.  I hate saying that, because I love his music; it always gives me pleasure and elevates my mood.  I'd just have trouble telling many of his pieces apart in a randomized playlist.

I only have one recording of a piece by Tailleferre, her Ballade for Piano & Orchestra.  Quite good.

Yeah, Milhaud's music tends to go into pure note-spinning after awhile, but it's such a joyous romp that I'll forgive him for any ill-advised steps along the way. His PCs and the symphonies continue to impress the hell out of me. I also loved his VCs. He also composed a Sacred Service that's quite beautiful that I need to find time to revisit at some point.

Does anyone expect a vote for the other three?

Quote from: springrite on August 28, 2013, 08:00:06 PM
Does anyone expect a vote for the other three?

I wouldn't count on it, Paul. Speaking for myself, when would I ever be walking down the street humming a tune by Auric? Probably never.

Auric wrote a lot of film music, so if you watch a lot of TCM, you've probably heard his music.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005952/

Quote from: Mirror Image on August 28, 2013, 08:08:06 PM
I wouldn't count on it, Paul. Speaking for myself, when would I ever be walking down the street humming a tune by Auric? Probably never.

One vote for Auric now, possibly a protest vote?

I have been known to hum a tune by the only lady in the group, though.

One can't help feeling a little sorry for Louis Durey in these polls :<

Quote from: dyn on August 28, 2013, 09:13:32 PM
One can't help feeling a little sorry for Louis Durey in these polls :<

:D ;)

Quote from: dyn on August 28, 2013, 09:13:32 PM
One can't help feeling a little sorry for Louis Durey in these polls :<

Didn't he lose to Truman, too?  :P

Quote from: The Six on August 28, 2013, 07:31:24 PM
Don't really care for any of them.

Who'd've guessed? The Six doesn't like Les Six  ;D

Sarge