Brahms vs. Dvorak

[nico1616]

Very difficult, but finally, however great Brahms may be, Dvorak gives me more joy.

I know what you mean. My mind says Brahms is the better composer, but I listen more to Dvorak's music because indeed, it brings me more happiness.
So I voted anyway: Dvorak.

[Geo Dude]

Brahms, for sure. I love a great deal of Dvorak. I adore every single note of Brahms. Dvorak has qualities Brahms doesn't possess, certainly, but Brahms has a never-ending technical resourcefulness and soulfulness, and the two are held in the most exquisite of balances. There are no composers who move me emotionally as consistently as Brahms does, and its the tension between these two facets which do this to me. Dvorak can be as beautiful as anyone, more radiant than almost any other composer, he can, as I said, do things that Brahms can't. But he doesn't reach that place Brahms so frequently does, that rarified area where everything is said with the most sublime, jaw-dropping inspiration, where the technique is always, always up to the ideas, and where what is being said is of such emotional urgency, cogency and inevitability. Even Beethoven rarely achieves that.  IMO, of course.

I agree completely with this.  Brahms it is.

[Karl Henning]

Luke puts it so well . . . aye, I must cast my vote for Brahms, as well.

[North Star]

Indeed, I, too, agree with Luke on this matter.

[madaboutmahler]

Too difficult.

Dvorak is a very special composer for me, as it was really his music that got me into classical music more than any other composer with pieces such as the Slavonic Dances and Wind Serenade. I still adore and love his music now. Favourites being the Slavonic Dances, Symphonies 4,7 and 9, Wind Serenade, the concerti and the tone poems.

Brahms, well he was the greater genius I suppose. And his music presents a stronger emotional power to me and I love so much of it! Favourites would be the symphonies, piano concerti, opus 118 piano pieces and much of the chamber music.

Well, I'll be brave and make my vote. After thinking about it for a while, I came to the conclusion that I would vote for Dvorak. This poll was really hard though, John!

And by the way, writing my favourite pieces of both composers made me realise that I have heard neither of their choral masterpieces! Not Brahms' German Requiem or Dvorak's Stabat Mater!!!! This must be cured soon....