Greatest composer of the 20th century?

[James]

When we look back at previous eras of western classical art music certain figures stand out well above the others over time with great clarity. For instance, the Baroque era there is J.S. Bach .. for the Classical Era we have Mozart & Beethoven .. for the Romantic Era there is the unavoidable & controversial Richard Wagner. So now as we look back at the 20th century, who do you think the greatest composer was? I've listed some of the century's biggest, most popular, most successful, even most notorious names .. plus an 'other' option for a composer not listed (and there are many). I wrestled including composers like Debussy (or even Ravel) in the list, as I see him as more of a late 19th century musical precursor to the 20th century, but he was so inventive & creative that he had an enormous impact, foreshadowing early composition devices etc. And I almost lumped the 2nd Viennese School together as 1, but decided not to. You can list 2 honorable mentions with your main vote, reserved for 2 other composers you feel are also unavoidable & most representative of western notation art composition of the last century.

Have fun with this exercise.

[Karl Henning]

Okay, gotta say it:  If it were not for the OP, I could not believe that Stockhausen is even an option here.  For Greatest of the Century? Puh-leeze.

[San Antone]

Other: John Cage

[Ken B]

Igor.

Harder question: Greatest playwright of Shakespeare's generation.

Honorable mentions: Bartok, Debussy

[vandermolen]

Sibelius

(Shostakovich of those on the list)

[Karl Henning]

Sibelius

(Shostakovich of those on the list)

Certainly Sibelius is a stronger candidate than more than one on the present list.

[North Star]

A great talent, very nationalist though, and 19th century-ish, and mostly at home symphonically (and uneven at that, sort of a late bloomer) .. little else beyond that.

truly representative of the century? of the time? Hmmmmmm raises doubts.

Karl was talking about Sibelius, not Bartók. 

[Moonfish]

What! Richard Strauss is not on the list!!!!     
He kind of straddles the two centuries, but the bulk of his important works falls into the 20th for sure. He gets my vote!   
What about Vaughan Williams?
RVW and Sibelius are my honorable mentions in this "exercise"....

[Moonfish]

All great talents, I love Strauss .. but the greatest of the 20th century, when looking back? Nahh .. for the most part all throwbacks to the 19th century.

And Debussy is not...?   

[sneakerburn]

Shostakovich. Enough said.

[Dax]

Ives

[Dax]

most of it is amateurishly executed.

Study the scores: those who have done so would dismiss that view as rubbish.

I suggest you post your reasons for your view on the Ives thread.

[Ken B]

It is not the greatest work of the century, not by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry.

Only a few works are worthy footnotes of the era, and are more precursors. Mostly cherished within certain American-heritage sects.

The work is from a man who clearly did music on the side as a hobby.

Sing it brother James!

[Karl Henning]

Poor James--unable to stretch his imagination!

[North Star]

It is not the greatest work of the century, not by any stretch of the imagination. Sorry.

The work is from a man who clearly did music on the side as a hobby.

Writing of Boulez again, I see.

[Moonfish]

Actually .. Debussy is a unique case .. even though the bulk of his time is late-19th, he's actually more pure/himself and musically forward looking/thinking than many 20th century composers - actually jazz harmony has a large debt to pay him as well. He certainly was more of a seed for the century ahead than a clear derivative offshoot of something prior.

So we are not talking about the greatest composer here? It seems as if the question is "Which composer of the 20th century was the one most connected to contemporary classical music according to James?"   

[Moonfish]

No .. we are talking greatest 20th century composer. If you seriously think Strauss was, with nods to RVW & Sibelius, fair enough. I'm just trying to stimulate the conversation.

But you must admit that Strauss was breaking incredible new ground with his 'Salome' back in 1905/1906. One can hardly argue that this music is "a throwback to the 19th century"?

[Karl Henning]

You've got to be in on the joke. Only James can define the terms, only he understands culture, the world, the good stuff!

[Moonfish]

He's clearly & largely of the romantic tradition .. Wagner influence through & through, content on living off of that legacy. He was riding on the last vestiges of that to the end. Especially something like Salome.

[Ken B]

I am just glad Nate has not noticed me mentioning Debussy.