Who is the greatest of these baroque composers?

[Martin Lind]

I start a poll for baroque composers who are quite famous, but without Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Purcell and Rameau, who are maybe a bit too famous. If you don't know all of these composers, doesn't matter, you shouldn't take polls  so seriously. Just vote. But maybe this is a way to make composers who are less famous than Bach, Handel and Vivaldi more popular.

Regards
Martin

[The new erato]

These composers represent such a large variety of periods and genres that it's very hard to compare some of them. Much as I would have liked to include A Scarlatti and Lully, I went for Schutz, which in my opinion is one of the all time greats.

PS Just noted that you have two Charpentiers (another great who perhaps could have been even greater, if it hadn't been for Lully).

[springrite]

I considered everyone except Telemann and Pachelbel. It's a tie between them all, with the two names mentioned in second and third place respectively. 

[Bulldog]

Was the Couperin entry Francois or Louis?  In any event, I voted for Couperin.  If Froberger was in the mix, he would get my vote.

[MN Dave]

All this list does is remind me of how much more music there is to hear. 

[Josquin des Prez]

Why is Scarlatti in the list? He is in the same league as Bach, Handel and company.

[Brahmsian]

For this one, definitely no vote because 'Banana' is not on the list. 

[Que]

Charpentier twice, only one Couperin and NO Froberger!

I'll choose "banana" on this one.

Q

[71 dB]

Easy, Buxtehude!

[Martin Lind]

Why is Scarlatti in the list? He is in the same league as Bach, Handel and company.

I don't think that Scarlatti is as popular as Bach and Handel. But he is fine, I listened today to him and he is a discovery for me.

I am not an expert for baroque music, as a matter of fact just the opposite. But I know and love Bach, Handel und Purcell for a very long time. Vivaldi ist not my favourite but he is very popular, the seasons are one of the greatest "hits" of all time. And I like Rameau.

As I said: I am not an baroque expert. But most of these composers are included in the 60 CD Sony baroque box. I added Biber who is as I know quite popular and Fasch who I hear myselve some time ago. I didn't know that there are two Couperins - there is only one mentioned in my Sony box with Cocert Royaux. Sorry that I didn't include Froberger. He is only included briefly in the Sony box sharing one CD with other composers. Another composer who is quite famous is Zelenka, not included in Sony, but heard good things of him.

The good thing for me starting this thread was that I had to listen again into the Sonybox and start again my research for other composers. So I discovered that Corelli is better than I thought, that Schutz could be good and that I like Dominico Scarlatti. But many other composers I don't like, Telemann for example, Lully and others. Even this may change, but first of all I "won" three composers which is not bad isn't it?

And I know very well that Vivaldi for example may be esteemed to high - but he is extremely popular and all of these composers are less popular than Bach, Handel und Vivaldi, probably Purcell and maybe Rameau. To have then such a list doesn't mean that I think these are composers to be neglected - in the opposite I am curious which is the result of this poll as it may influence which baroque composers I may explore in the future.

Regards
Martin

[Martin Lind]

Charpentier twice, only one Couperin and NO Froberger!

I'll choose "banana" on this one.

Q

I added Froberger, deleted one Charpentier and also added Zelenka. I think the most popular Couperin is Francois Couperin and I meant him.

Regards
Martin

[MN Dave]

Out of this bunch, I will take Purcell. 

[Todd]

Another vote for Banana.

[Sorin Eushayson]

These "Best of" or "The Greatest" threads always come across as redundant and pointless to me and here's a great case.  I could never choose between Charpentier, Biber, Telemann, Couperin (whose repertoire I'm shockingly unfamiliar with), Corelli, or the Scarlatti's!

"Yes we can haz banana!" 

[Martin Lind]

I could never choose between Charpentier, Biber, Telemann, Couperin (whose repertoire I'm shockingly unfamiliar with), Corelli, or the Scarlatti's!

If somebody asks you: What should I hear next? you must choose. And as I think nobody needs a recommendation for Bach, but maybe for one of these composers, I came to the idea of this poll. For me it's very interesting, if you think it's pointless - this may be your opinion, but nobody is forced to take part in this thread.

As I said: I know Bach, Handel, Purcell, Rameau and Vivaldi - but had always difficulties to get closer to other Baroque composers. For exactly this reason I think such a poll makes sense - at least for me.

[Elgarian]

If somebody asks you: What should I hear next? you must choose.

That's the spirit in which I approached it (because it's impossible to say who's 'best') and I opted for Lully, but with a deep, deep sigh, because I also wanted to tick Couperin and Charpentier.

But honesty compels me to admit that I'm acquainted with the work of fewer than half of the composers in this list.

[Bulldog]

If somebody asks you: What should I hear next? you must choose. And as I think nobody needs a recommendation for Bach, but maybe for one of these composers, I came to the idea of this poll. For me it's very interesting, if you think it's pointless - this may be your opinion, but nobody is forced to take part in this thread.

With these types of polls, there are always a few members who do some grousing or state they can't possibly make a decision.  I really don't understand the latter group; each of us makes more difficult decisons on a daily basis. 

[MN Dave]

It's like they can't fathom polls nor how fun they are for some people. 

[Todd]

If somebody asks you: What should I hear next? you must choose.

First, there's nothing saying that one must choose.  Second, such a question is markedly different than asking 'Who's the greatest?'

Why not just go down the list you created?  It would be no less arbitrary than others' opinions.

[Martin Lind]

First, there's nothing saying that one must choose.  Second, such a question is markedly different than asking 'Who's the greatest?'

No, the question is not markedly differant for me. If I have the options to hear good or to hear better music, I will always choose the better music. So for me there is no difference.

And I could not understand all this "You should not judge". We are judging all the time and the simple fact, that you listen to certain music very often and to other very rarely is a judgement in itselve.

All this the poll is "bananas" is not very polight. The topic of this poll is: baroque music beyond the most popular baroque composers. Such a poll is an excellent starting point for such a discussion. And I am not only interested in this poll but also in the thread. Your view of the poll as "bananas" is overcritical. And maybe I would like another poll system, in which you could give certain points to certain composers for example, but we have only this poll system.

And instead of discussing music we are discussing about the sense of the poll.

Regards
Martin