The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul...
The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between...
The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming...
One and only one, please!
For me, it's Franz Schubert.
Hector Berlioz
R.W.
Mahler
(As I stare awkwardly down at my feet, pondering so many others.)
--Bruce
Mahler...staring at my feet too but not so awkwardly...just a bit unsteady...
Sarge
Ludwig van Beethoven.
Bach
Mozart
Bach.
Debussy
Torn between Vaughan Williams and Miaskovsky.
Quote from: vandermolen on February 14, 2020, 08:30:08 PM
Torn between Vaughan Williams and Miaskovsky.
Not torn at all. ;)
Using this thread, we can come up with a GMG Favorite Composers list:
Mahler (2)
Bach (2)
Schubert
Berlioz
Wagner
Beethoven
Mozart
Debussy
Vaughan Williams*
Miakovsky*
* Unclear how to treat Vaughan Williams and Miakovsky, since Vandermolen said they were tied. And Christo was not clear which of the two he chose.
Quote from: San Antone on February 15, 2020, 05:31:54 AM
Using this thread, we can come up with a GMG Favorite Composers list:
Mahler (2)
Bach (2)
Schubert
Berlioz
Wagner
Beethoven
Mozart
Debussy
Vaughan Williams*
Miakovsky*
* Unclear to treat Vaughan Williams and Miakovsky, since Vandermolen said they were tied. And Christo was unclear which of the two he chose.
All of those except Debussy and Miakovsky would come in my top 10.
Very interesting answers, thank you.
I was torn between Schubert and Mozart but eventually Schwammerl won over Wolferl. I guess it's the ultimate expression of my irrepressible romantic taste and inclination.
Quote from: San Antone on February 15, 2020, 05:31:54 AM
Vaughan Williams*
* Unclear how to treat Vaughan Williams and Miakovsky, since Vandermolen said they were tied. And Christo was not clear which of the two he chose.
My avatar will never look back into your face again! ??? :'(
Quote from: Christo on February 15, 2020, 09:30:35 AM
My avatar will never look back into your face again! ??? :'(
LOL, I have set my site prefs so that member's avatars don't display. RVW it is then.
Mahler (2)
Bach (2)
Schubert
Berlioz
Wagner
Beethoven
Mozart
Debussy
Vaughan Williams
Miakovsky*
Quote from: San Antone on February 15, 2020, 09:32:48 AM
LOL, I have set my site prefs so that member's avatars don't display. RVW it is then.
Mahler (2)
Bach (2)
Vaughan Williams (1,5)
Schubert
Berlioz
Wagner
Beethoven
Mozart
Debussy
Miakovsky (0,5)
(https://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=20207;type=avatar) #fixed #2x 8)
The genius of Bonn: Ludwig van Beethoven.
Yesterday I attended a concert with 3 of his string quartets. Absolutely mindblowing, music of the highest inspiration, sheer mastery. Upon hearing this kind of music live is critically different to hear it on CD. The impression they gave me is priceless.
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 15, 2020, 09:44:15 AM
The exiled genius of Bonn Mechelen/Malines: Ludwig van Beethoven.
#fixed
Quote from: San Antone on February 15, 2020, 05:31:54 AM
Using this thread, we can come up with a GMG Favorite Composers list:
[...]
Not sure if soulmates and favourites are the same.
Personally, I don't even know if my favourite composer (Bach) is also my One and Only Soulmate Composer.
When I read Florestan's intro, the latter might well be Mozart.
"The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul..."
That's Bach for me.
"The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between..."
That's a tie between Bach and Mozart for me.
"The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming..."
That's Mozart for me.
So: I'm not gonna vote on this one. :blank:
Quote from: Marc on February 15, 2020, 10:18:16 AM
Not sure if soulmates and favourites are the same.
Personally, I don't even know if my favourite composer (Bach) is also my One and Only Soulmate Composer.
When I read Florestan's intro, the latter might well be Mozart.
"The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul..."
That's Bach for me.
"The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between..."
That's a tie between Bach and Mozart for me.
"The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming..."
That's Mozart for me.
So: I'm not gonna vote on this one. :blank:
Great post!
Updated total, including Marc's non-vote ;) :
Bach (2.5)
Mahler (2)
Beethoven (2)
Vaughan Williams (1.5)
Mozart (1.5)
Schubert (1)
Berlioz (1)
Wagner (1)
Debussy (1)
Miakovsky (0.5)
Quote from: Florestan on February 15, 2020, 10:23:25 AM
Great post!
Roughly said: Bach comforts me, Mozart understands me.
Quote from: San Antone on February 15, 2020, 10:37:24 AM
Updated total, including Marc's non-vote ;) :
Bach (2.5)
Mahler (2)
Beethoven (2)
Vaughan Williams (1.5)
Mozart (1.5)
Schubert (1)
Berlioz (1)
Wagner (1)
Debussy (1)
Miakovsky (0.5)
Well, all right then. ;)
Quote from: Marc on February 15, 2020, 10:38:16 AM
Roughly said: Bach Mozart comforts me, Mozart Schubert understands me.
That's it, fixed.
Quote from: Florestan on February 15, 2020, 10:50:42 AM
That's it, fixed.
Schubert also understands me quite good, but sometimes I think: come on man, get yourself together.
(That's my problem with the 19th century...)
And with Mahler I always feel the need to phone him and give him my therapist's number.
He did have a chat with dr. Sigmund though, in the Dutch (yes!) city of Leiden.
Quote from: Marc on February 15, 2020, 11:12:30 AM
Schubert also understands me quite good, but sometimes I think: come on man, get yourself together.
I'd happily get drunk with
Schubert.
Schumann as well.
Tchaikovsky goes without saying too. :D
Quote from: Florestan on February 15, 2020, 11:25:36 AM
I'd happily get drunk with Schubert.
Of course you do. #whowouldntwithSchubertorSchumann #beingdrunkalwaysbetterthanplaytheirmusic :-[
(https://miro.medium.com/max/3840/1*cyGIPS0HThDfCY9OUnEvZA.jpeg)
I think the drunken one might be another. :-X 8)
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 15, 2020, 12:11:04 PM
I think the drunken one might be another. :-X 8)
You? #really? ???
Shostakovich
Quote from: Florestan on February 14, 2020, 01:30:29 PM
The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul...
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart
Quote
The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between...
Franz Schubert
Quote
The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming...
Ludwig van Beethoven
Quote
One and only one, please!
Robert Schumann.... I guess.
Unlike almost any other composer, listening to Schumann is like looking into a mirror. I empathise with his musical tastes and decisions in a way I can't with most others; we are moved by the same things and have the same weaknesses. Which I guess is a bad sign, considering that he was insane, and made a number of highly questionable life decisions.
Quote from: amw on February 16, 2020, 07:07:45 PM
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart
Franz Schubert
Ludwig van Beethoven
Robert Schumann.... I guess.
Unlike almost any other composer, listening to Schumann is like looking into a mirror. I empathise with his musical tastes and decisions in a way I can't with most others; we are moved by the same things and have the same weaknesses. Which I guess is a bad sign, considering that he was insane, and made a number of highly questionable life decisions.
Nice post.
The last part of it is scary, though.
Quote from: amw on February 16, 2020, 07:07:45 PM
Wolfgang Amadé Mozart
Franz Schubert
Ludwig van Beethoven
Robert Schumann.... I guess.
All dead,
very. ???
Quote from: Christo on February 17, 2020, 10:15:07 AM
All dead, very. ???
I don't get your point.
All composers nominated so far are dead.
Quote from: Florestan on February 17, 2020, 10:27:46 AM
I don't get your point. All composers nominated so far are dead.
Yea. Yet not so
very. :D #mostdeadcomposers
Quote from: Florestan on February 17, 2020, 10:27:46 AM
I don't get your point. All composers nominated so far are dead.
The important thing is that they're alive in our hearts. :)
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 17, 2020, 03:27:49 PM
The important thing is that they're alive in our very old, almost antique & always ancient hearts. :'(
#fixed? #hopeso :(
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 17, 2020, 04:11:48 PM
What? ???
Yea. #
that >:(
Quote from: Florestan on February 14, 2020, 01:30:29 PM
The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul...
The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between...
The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming...
One and only one, please!
Like a couple of other people, different sentences in this elicit slightly different responses in me.
I don't know if anyone
unfailingly touches me. Even my favourite composers (and pop artists) have the occasional moments in their career where a work is just kind of... eh.
And I'm not sure that the bit about being humane, companiable and life-affirming goes with encapsulating everything and touching deep recesses. If I was going for those former qualities I might suggest Dvorak...
I largely thought about Beethoven and Faure. If absolutely pushed I think I'm going to say Beethoven, but it's such a close-run thing I actually changed which name I put a couple of times while writing this sentence.
Quote from: Madiel on February 18, 2020, 01:29:38 AM
Like a couple of other people, different sentences in this elicit slightly different responses in me.
I don't know if anyone unfailingly touches me. Even my favourite composers (and pop artists) have the occasional moments in their career where a work is just kind of... eh.
And I'm not sure that the bit about being humane, companiable and life-affirming goes with encapsulating everything and touching deep recesses. If I was going for those former qualities I might suggest Dvorak...
I largely thought about Beethoven and Faure. If absolutely pushed I think I'm going to say Beethoven, but it's such a close-run thing I actually changed which name I put a couple of times while writing this sentence.
I was sure you'd nominate Faure. And yes, Dvorak is a strong contender in the humane-companionable-life-affirming department.
Quote from: Florestan on February 18, 2020, 02:55:51 AM
I was sure you'd nominate Faure.
I think it was the consistency element that made me waver. There are various really small, minor pieces that don't make much of an impact with me.
Whereas the 10 big chamber pieces? When my grandmother died some years ago I didn't listen to anything else for a couple of weeks.
If you'd permitted a dead heat I would have gone for it, but you were so insistent. ;D
I agree that these criteria don't always align perfectly to choose one composer. What's more, "soulmate" feels too intimate for me. I have to name Beethoven, but the only thing I have in common with the man or his music is short temper and irascibility. It would be totally preposterous for me to claim him or his music as my soulmate. To increase the weirdness I have even thought about what piece of music one would like to be, say one would be reincarnated in such a fashion. This is such a strange thought that I doubt it was my original idea (I probably stole it from amw?). Anyway, I admittedly have had such a thought and the piece is Beethoven's op.135 although I cannot quite explain why. It is a favorite but not my favorite Beethoven piece or even quartet. I guess being op.131 or op.132 would be too painful for me as I utterly lack the Beethovenian determination and courage.
Mahler.
If we are keeping track, I just want him to win. So count it.
Quote from: greg on February 18, 2020, 07:59:35 AM
Mahler.
If we are keeping track, I just want him to win. So count it.
This isn't a competition.
Quote from: The new erato on February 15, 2020, 10:26:12 PM
Shostakovich
Nice surprise here, hadn't guessed, my fault no doubt. 8)
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 18, 2020, 10:14:14 AM
This isn't a competition.
But technically everything is a competition (a game). It's just a matter of whether you choose to ignore that aspect or not. ;D
Quote from: greg on February 18, 2020, 10:28:34 AM
But technically everything is a competition (a game). It's just a matter of whether you choose to ignore that aspect or not. ;D
It's only a game if you believe it to be. I, on the other hand, do not.
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 18, 2020, 10:29:16 AM
It's only a game if you believe it to be. I, on the other hand, do not.
There is going to be someone with the most votes by the time the thread is over... which could be called a "winner."
The better argument for it not being a game would be that the composers are dead and couldn't care less. ;D
Gustav Mahler,
Now and forever.
LKB
Quote from: Christo on February 18, 2020, 09:55:08 AM
Your temper (not mine). #again #greetings :-\
Funny, I could have sworn it was you rather than Florestan who wished me dead yesterday in the Movies thread. But apparently you don't have a temper.
Quote from: Jo498 on February 18, 2020, 04:07:37 AM
I agree that these criteria don't always align perfectly to choose one composer. What's more, "soulmate" feels too intimate for me.
That's precisely the idea: the one composer you feel he wrote his music for you (hence the "touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul").
But I agree that this is a criterion that can have multiple answers, and that adding the other two criteria only multiplies the choices.
I went with Schubert for all 3 criteria combined, and other composers who meet all 3 of them in (almost) the same proportion are Mozart first and foremost, followed by Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff (in chronological order). Schumann, Faure, Dvorak and Brahms are strong contenders as well.
So, dead heat allowed, folks --- but up to 5. :)
My "Soulmate" is a Trinity: 0:) 0:) 0:) ???
Bruckner, Mahler,Schoenberg ;)
Quote from: Cato on February 18, 2020, 03:01:32 PM
My "Soulmate" is a Trinity: 0:) 0:) 0:) ???
Bruckner, Mahler,Schoenberg ;)
Nice!
Quote from: Cato on February 18, 2020, 03:01:32 PM
My "Soulmate" is a Trinity: 0:) 0:) 0:) ???
Bruckner, Mahler,Schoenberg ;)
Excellent!...that's two-thirds of my Trinity.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on February 18, 2020, 03:55:35 PM
Excellent!...that's two-thirds of my Trinity.
And yours is...
Wagner, Bruckner, Mahler ;)
Quote from: Cato on February 18, 2020, 04:20:09 PM
And yours is...Wagner, Bruckner, Mahler ;)
With one Ring to rule them all ! :D
If we're being trinitarian I think I'm going with Beethoven, Faure and Tori Amos.
I even get to see one of my trinity perform live.
EDIT: Plus we've talked AND she's given me a hug.
Mahler for me too.
Nice post. Thanks.
Quote from: Florestan on February 14, 2020, 01:30:29 PM
The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul...
The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between...
The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming...
I'd be lying to myself if I didn't admit my most immediate answer to all these questions is Philip Glass.
Quote from: Florestan on February 14, 2020, 01:30:29 PM
The one and only composer whose music, no matter how familiar or how new, unfailingly touches and stirs the deepest recesses of your soul...
The one and only composer whose music you feel encapsulates the whole gamut of human experience, from the darkest despair to the most exhilarating joy and everything in between...
The one and only composer whose music you feel to be the most humane, companionable and life-affirming...[/b][/size].
For me, it's merely a question of 'coming home' and 'home' in this sense can only be Debussy and no other. His music is like a safe haven and no matter what happens, I always remain completely fulfilled by his music. It's really like a soothing balm for this troubled world that I can escape into and feel completely at peace with everything.
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 25, 2020, 01:20:09 PM
For me, it's merely a question of 'coming home' and 'home' in this sense can only be Debussy and no other. His music is like a safe haven and no matter what happens, I always remain completely fulfilled by his music. It's really like a soothing balm for this troubled world that I can escape into and feel completely at peace with everything.
Very well put, John. Schubert it is for me.
Now we have moved on to three composers I would add Mahler, who has obsessed me almost as much (possibly more) as Berlioz over the years and Beethoven. if I was banished to that fabled desert island I would take Mozart; it would be a big wrench to leave behind Vaughan Williams.
Quote from: Biffo on February 26, 2020, 01:00:50 AM
if I was banished to that fabled desert island I would take Mozart
It goes without saying. 8)
Liza Lim
Beethoven. He is deep in my roots and I feel that he expresses every possible emotion in his music.
Joy like no other:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EJE1ad36Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EJE1ad36Q)
After the dramatic, Scherzo-like introduction, it becomes joyful outside of a few variations(Double Fugue is joyful for instance)
Desperation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByS9DHxysSI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByS9DHxysSI)
Mourning Melancholy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaHmbNI2Bgk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaHmbNI2Bgk)
Oh No! I'm Trapped Here! Help Me!:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pQytF2nak (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7pQytF2nak)
Nocturnal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea8oX-A8swk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea8oX-A8swk)
Adrenaline Rush:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifj8dwuAzAQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifj8dwuAzAQ)
Mysterious:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7D746GtsWk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7D746GtsWk)
Everyday Happiness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfF0zHeU3Zs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfF0zHeU3Zs)
Among many other pieces and emotions they express.
My answer is Beethoven followed by Dvorak, but wtf? Nobody has even mentioned Haydn?!?
I love this question. For some reason my first instinct was Martinu.
Maybe I also have a certain Nordic sensibility, which makes me especially love Sibelius, Holmboe and Norgard.
Beethoven, Mahler, Chopin, Berlioz.
I love their music just about equally, but as a man if I had to pick a combination of integrity, suffering, originality, flamboyance, and idealism, it would have to be - Berlioz.
Quote from: Skogwald on May 31, 2024, 01:58:06 PMI love this question. For some reason my first instinct was Martinu.
Maybe I also have a certain Nordic sensibility, which makes me especially love Sibelius, Holmboe and Norgard.
Quite easy to understand!
I see that I answered 4 years ago with the "Trinity" of
Bruckner, Mahler, and
Schoenberg.
I will stay with that, but certainly I have a Russian Trinity of
S. Taneyev, Scriabin, and
Tcherepnin.*
(
Alexander or his father
Nicolai, on alternating days! ;D
I mean... Janacek. Obviously.
Unless it's Tippett. I think it might be Tippett.
Or Ravel.