Lesser-known composers you're inordinately fond of.

[Lilas Pastia]

No poll, just a thread to discuss composers that are relatively well-known but have a rather small following among music lovers. And you happen to be one of that composer's biggest fans 

For example:

Vaughan-Williams is well-known and has a large following.
Langgaard is not all that well-known but has a devoted following of hard-core enthusiasts.
Herman Koppel is known only to a very small number, even though all who do rave about his music.

So this thread is not about such composers. Here's my take on the real thing:

Frederick Delius is relatively well-known but most often than not is not among any one's favourite composers.

Fred Delius is da man ! I never tire of listening to his music. It does not clamor for attention when I browse my shelves, I never have a burning desire to hear the latest Last Cuckoo, but I always melt and, to speak like Harry I feel my soul is elevated to a higher plane where beauty reigns and nothing ugly is to be heard or seen. To paraphrase the title of one of his best known compositions, when I listen to his music I walk to the Paradise Garden.

BTW the latter piece is an orchestral interlude from his opera, a Village Romeo and Juliet, one of the most ecstatically beautiful works I've heard. The only piece of his I haven't fallen in love is A Mass of Life. Listening to the old Beecham recording doesn't flatter the piece one bit. I'm badly in need of a newer recording.

The hard part with Delius is that most discs of his music will duplicate part of another one. Of the 16 1/2 discs I own, only that Sony Mass of Life is not duplicated elsewhere. I don't mind one bit. I love everything I have.

[Brahmsian]

It will come as no surprise to anyone here when I say: Sergey Taneyev

[Mirror Image]

Milhaud seems to fall into this category. While he is well-known, there aren't a lot of people into his music. Count me an admirer of his works. He certainly is one of my favorite French composers. What I like about him is his inventive use of polytonality. Some may find this kind of compositional technique off-putting, but I love it and when used in the inventive way Milhaud used it, it sounds as natural as breathing. From his concerti to his ballets to his symphonies, the man gives me a lot of happiness and is always melodically/harmonically interesting.

[mc ukrneal]

But there are so many: Farrenc, Franck (Richard and Eduard), Alfven, Burgmuller, Richter, and the list goes on.

[The new erato]

Frank Martin is a long standing soft spot for me. Edward Rubbra as well, but not quite to the point that Martin is.

[madaboutmahler]

For me, I'd have to say the Czech composer, Vitezslav Novak. I'd also say Glazunov. Not many people seem to like his music.... I just can't help but love it though, so adorable with absolutely stunning melodies and Russian charm!

And how could I almost forget, I'd certainly have to mention Geirr Tveitt!! edit: ok, perhaps as Karlo says, he is not well known enough to feature in this thread.... and coming to think about it, perhaps Novak isn't either?

It will come as no surprise to anyone here when I say: Sergey Taneyev

He'd be on my list too, Ray. Bortkiewicz too.

[North Star]

And how could I almost forget, I'd certainly have to mention Geirr Tveitt!!

Hmmm.

Herman Koppel is known only to a very small number, even though all who do rave about his music.
So this thread is not about such composers. Here's my take on the real thing:
Frederick Delius is relatively well-known but most often than not is not among any one's favourite composers.

We must obey the rules 

[Sergeant Rock]

Havergal Brian and Franz Schmidt. Brian's late Symphonies are, to me, like Mahler condensed. Schmidt is akin to listening to music composed by a genius committee made up of Schubert, Mahler, Bruckner, Korngold and Rott.

Sarge

[madaboutmahler]

Havergal Brian and Franz Schmidt. Brian's late Symphonies are, to me, like Mahler condensed. Schmidt is akin to listening to music composed by a genius committee made up of Schubert, Mahler, Bruckner, Korngold and Rott.

Sarge

You now have me instantly interesting in both Brian and Schmidt, Sarge! Must explore both at some point.

Hmmm.
We must obey the rules 

oops

[CaughtintheGaze]

Vincent D'Indy

[mahler10th]

Milhaud seems to fall into this category. While he is well-known, there aren't a lot of people into his music. Count me an admirer of his works. He certainly is one of my favorite French composers. What I like about him is his inventive use of polytonality. Some may find this kind of compositional technique off-putting, but I love it and when used in the inventive way Milhaud used it, it sounds as natural as breathing. From his concerti to his ballets to his symphonies, the man gives me a lot of happiness and is always melodically/harmonically interesting.

Agreed!  His music is inspiration for unaccountable happiness!  But for inordinate fondness with no real reason why...guess who..



I would be like Bruckner unto him.  I have no idea why I have become so attatched to this composer - that one symphony is the music in me.
Bortkiewicz too.

[Lilas Pastia]

I hesitated long and hard between Milhaud and Delius. In their respective countries they are highly respected amd performed. But 'foreign' performances seem to be a tough export. In the end I chose Delius because he is so immediately recognisable, and also because Milhaud (like Villa-Lobos) is so, well...éparpillé - all over the place.

An approving nod to d'Indy and Alfven .

I'd have to check some more into Schmidt and Taneyev. So far Schmidt's Book of the Seven Seals and fourth symphonies have elicited tepid responses. From Taneev I *think* I have nothing... Recommendations, any one?

[Mirror Image]

Agreed!  His music is inspiration for unaccountable happiness!

CPO has two wonderful sets of Milhaud's music: a symphony set and a piano concerti set both conducted by Alun Francis. If you haven't bought these, then I urge you to get them whenever you have the chance. I've been praising Milhaud for quite some time and I'm perfectly fine with nobody else liking his music, but it's always a great relief to find others that do and with that in mind, John, you and I now share a kinship. We're muy simpático now.

[Mirror Image]

I hesitated long and hard between Milhaud and Delius. In their respective countries they are highly respected amd performed. But 'foreign' performances seem to be a tough export. In the end I chose Delius because he is so immediately recognisable, and also because Milhaud (like Villa-Lobos) is so, well...éparpillé - all over the place.

I would have chosen Delius as well, but, in the end, I liked Milhaud much more. I do like Delius and think so often that he gets the wrong end of the stick around here for no good reason at all. Now, I can only take Delius is small doses. I still like his music, but there's so much more out there that I enjoy more.

[Holden]

I don't know if he rates as lesser known but Hummel's music is great.

[Madiel]

Vagn Holmboe if he counts. If he doesn't I've got nothing.

[Lisztianwagner]

I would definitely say Vitezslav Novak, Sergei Bortkiewicz and Alexander Glazunov too. But I'll also add Hans-Christian Lumbye, a danish composer of waltzes, polkas, mazurkas and galops (I absolutely love his Champagne Galop and Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop), and Gustav Holst, there's much, much more than The Planets in his output.

[TheGSMoeller]

American composer Paul Schoenfield. Discovered his music about 15 years ago and have been in awe of it ever since. It's classical but blended with folk, jazz and at times klezmer.
And he's a living composer.

[The new erato]

Georg Rochberg.

And as a fan of the baroque, there's plenty. I'll start with a particular fave; Cavalli.

[Florestan]

Off the top of my head in chronological order: Heinrich Biber, Antonio Caldara, Juan Crisostomo Arriaga, Norbert Burgmueller, Franz Lachner, Helmer Alexandersson, Vasily Kalinnikov, Wilhelm Stenhammar, Vincent d'Indy... and many more I can't name right now.