10 favourite American composers

[SurprisedByBeauty]

There are many duplications.  Since I am a band junkie I have five recordings of George Washington Bridge.  Attached is a list of recordings in my library.

Very cool. Thanks for the extra mile. Reading it with envy right now.

[kyjo]

My new list, which is probably the same as my old list. But I like lists. 

Aaron Copland
Roy Harris
David Diamond
Leonard Bernstein
Samuel Barber
Kevin Puts
Alan Hovhaness
William Schuman
Stephen Albert
Robert Kurka

If the list was 'greatest' I'd include Charles Ives.
Feel bad about leaving out Piston and Gershwin, not to mention Herrmann.

No Hanson?!

[Mirror Image]

No Hanson?!

A strange omission from Jeffrey. Good eye.

[Crudblud]

In no particular order:

Frank Zappa
Charles Ives
Robert Ashley
Elliott Carter
Kate Soper
George Crumb
Conlon Nancarrow
Ruth Crawford Seeger
John Cage
Milton Babbitt

I was thinking about this list earlier. Some honourable mentions occur to me: Morton Feldman, David Diamond, George Gershwin, Harry Partch.

Add.: Christo's post below reminds me that Barber would be a good addition to my honourable mentions list.

[Christo]

First try:
Samuel Barber
Leonard Bernstein
David Diamond
Richard Einhorn
George Gershwin
Philip Glass
Charles Ives
Steve Reich
William Schuman
William Grant Still

[vandermolen]

A strange omission from Jeffrey. Good eye.

I was just checking whether you and Kyle were 'on the ball'!  Hahaha

Anyway, he is there now.

[relm1]

Not sure what thread to post this in but the fantastic Pulitzer Prize winning American composer, Kevin Puts' opera, Silent Night, is not available commercially but the entire work can be heard here in an excellent recording:
https://www.yourclassical.org/story/2020/12/01/minnesota-opera-silent-night


The true story is about the World War 1 Christmas truce that spontaneously happened in the trenches of war where briefly, enemies set aside their weapons and came out of the trenches to greet each other, share food, wine, song and dance and allow each other to bury their dead. 

[Mirror Image]

My list would look somewhat different nowadays:

(In no particular order)

Ives
Crawford Seeger
Ruggles
Barber
Copland
Carter
Crumb
Feldman
W. Schuman
Bernstein

[Symphonic Addict]

Hanson
Schuman
Copland
Barber
Bernstein
Adams
Ives
Hovhaness
Antheil
Creston

Not sure if exchanging Ives for either Diamond or Mennin. The latter talk to me more directly, though.

[Florestan]

Otomh, no particular order, composers whose music I listened to and enjoyed:

Scott Joplin
Karl Henning
George Gershwin
Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Aaron Copland
Samuel Barber
Leroy Anderson

[vandermolen]

Hanson
Schuman
Copland
Barber
Bernstein
Adams
Ives
Hovhaness
Antheil
Creston

Not sure if exchanging Ives for either Diamond or Mennin. The latter talk to me more directly, though.

Very much agree with this Cesar although I would exchange Adams for Diamond and Ives (whom I greatly admire) for Harris.

[Symphonic Addict]

Very much agree with this Cesar although I would exchange Adams for Diamond and Ives (whom I greatly admire) for Harris.

I could receive Diamond but Harris not likely, mayhaps no. 

[vandermolen]

I could receive Diamond but Harris not likely, mayhaps no. 

I think that I'm one of the few who like Harris on this forum. Don't they say that prophets are never appreciated in their homeland? 

[Mirror Image]

I think that I'm one of the few who like Harris on this forum. Don't they say that prophets are never appreciated in their homeland? 

I personally could just never get into Harris. As far as American symphonists go, he is often cited by the younger generation as an influence, but I definitely prefer others like Schuman and Diamond to Harris.

[vandermolen]

I personally could just never get into Harris. As far as American symphonists go, he is often cited by the younger generation as an influence, but I definitely prefer others like Schuman and Diamond to Harris.

Fair enough John. Symphonies 1,3,5,6 and 7 rate highly with me as does some of the chamber music.

[Mirror Image]

Fair enough John. Symphonies 1,3,5,6 and 7 rate highly with me as does some of the chamber music.

Here's a fair question: who do you prefer Diamond or Harris?

[vandermolen]

Here's a fair question: who do you prefer Diamond or Harris?

Difficult question John.
I think that Harris No.3 is one of the great American symphonies, worthy to stand alongside Copland's Third Symphony - but I think that Diamond was the more consistently great symphonist.

[Mirror Image]

Difficult question John.
I think that Harris No.3 is one of the great American symphonies, worthy to stand alongside Copland's Third Symphony - but I think that Diamond was the more consistently great symphonist.

Interesting, Jeffrey. I recall that William Schuman said in an interview that hearing one of Roy Harris' early symphonies is what made him become a composer. This is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/v/5qyZo2jgnGo

[springrite]

Interesting, Jeffrey. I recall that William Schuman said in an interview that hearing one of Roy Harris' early symphonies is what made him become a composer. This is the interview:

https://www.youtube.com/v/5qyZo2jgnGo

Harris makes the greater first impression, let's say. He was one of my favorite American composers for about a decade.
I have not listening to him for a long time after that, with The Gettysburg Symphony the only exception, even though I have about 10 CDs of his music.
But I listen to Diamond and Mennin a lot.

[Mirror Image]

Harris makes the greater first impression, let's say. He was one of my favorite American composers for about a decade.
I have not listening to him for a long time after that, with The Gettysburg Symphony the only exception, even though I have about 10 CDs of his music.
But I listen to Diamond and Mennin a lot.

No love for William Schuman?