The New and Improved Favorite Russian Composers Poll

[Haffner]

So is Prokofiev . . . .

Looking back, I realize I might have been really hasty in regard to Profokiev over Schnittke. However, I have found Schnittke's chamber music to be really engrossing. Could be a phase, as he does like to employ "effect" alot.

But I sincerely don't know much in general anyway.

[JoshLilly]

This list is so heavily tilted toward late Romantic and later. Yikes, big time. Dmitri Bortnyansky was a very innovative Russian composer of the 18th century who wrote tons of "sacred concerti", purely vocal works, mostly of a single movement. I've heard purely vocal music even by composers that I love, and don't usually like it. This is good stuff. I'll pass on the voting, but I do love Glinka and lots by Tchaikovsky. I'll just put in this "other" vote.

[BachQ]

Profokiev over Schnittke.

Proko, baby! .........

[Don]

Just one comment at this point.  I'm very surprised that Weinberg and Tishchenko only total one vote while a mediocrity like Rubinstein has two.

[BachQ]

Just one comment at this point. 

More.  More.

[greg]

Shostakovich currently has 36 votes, 7 more than the 2nd-place Tchaikovsky.... that's really saying a lot, isn't it? Most people have heard of Tchaikovsky, but few who don't know much about classical have even heard of Shostakovich's name!

[Haffner]

Proko, baby! .........

Listened to Profo's Symphonies today, and now I feel a little foolish.

[Kullervo]

Shostakovich currently has 36 votes, 7 more than the 2nd-place Tchaikovsky.... that's really saying a lot, isn't it? Most people have heard of Tchaikovsky, but few who don't know much about classical have even heard of Shostakovich's name!

I remember this girl in high school sent me the second movement of DSCH's 8th quartet, but she didn't really listen to any other composers. I guess she thought it was "wild".

[greg]

I remember this girl in high school sent me the second movement of DSCH's 8th quartet, but she didn't really listen to any other composers. I guess she thought it was "wild".

hmmm makes me wonder how she found it

[Kullervo]

hmmm makes me wonder how she found it

It was probably on Kazaa under "creep crazy violin music.mp3"

[greg]

It was probably on Kazaa under "creep crazy violin music.mp3"

lol, probably

[greg]

Prokofiev
Shostakovich
Stravinsky
Scriabin
Rachmaninov

it was hard to decide between Rachmaninov and Tchaikovsky, though.... and Schnittke was very close behind. Gubaidulina possibly close, too, if i would've heard more of her music.

man...... i'd like to change my 6th vote from Rachmaninov to Schnittke. Too late now 

[Don]

The voting has ended, and your top five picks are:

1.  Shostakovich
2.  Prokofiev
3.  Tchaikovsky
4.  Tie - Stravinsky and Rachmaninov

Honorable Mention (double-digit recipients): Mussorgsky/Rimsky-Korsakov/Scriabin.

I thank you for your participation.  Any surprises from your point of view?

[PerfectWagnerite]

The voting has ended, and your top five picks are:

1.  Shostakovich
2.  Prokofiev
3.  Tchaikovsky
4.  Tie - Stravinsky and Rachmaninov

Honorable Mention (double-digit recipients): Mussorgsky/Rimsky-Korsakov/Scriabin.

I thank you for your participation.  Any surprises from your point of view?

Definitely the fact that Tchaikovsky came in AFTER Prokofieff. I didn't think Prokofieff had enough "ammunition" as in big hits as Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky had the final three symphonies, Manfred, VC and PC and the three ballets in addition to Romeo and Juliette. Prokofieff had a lot of good work but hardly as concert staples that Tchaikovsky did.

[greg]

Any surprises from your point of view?

actually, no, after i figured out that on this forum the order of taste is Shostakovich-Prokofiev-Stravinsky (and their overall status as composers seems to be the opposite).

[BachQ]

The voting has ended, and your top five picks are:
2.  Prokofiev

Yippee!

[not edward]

Definitely the fact that Tchaikovsky came in AFTER Prokofieff. I didn't think Prokofieff had enough "ammunition" as in big hits as Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky had the final three symphonies, Manfred, VC and PC and the three ballets in addition to Romeo and Juliette. Prokofieff had a lot of good work but hardly as concert staples that Tchaikovsky did.

True as far as orchestral works go...but Prokofiev wins narrowly in chamber music and very comfortably in piano music. It's certainly the latter two that would persuade me to rank Prokofiev ahead.

[Don]

This list is so heavily tilted toward late Romantic and later.

I'm surprised you'd make this comment.  First, the list has many romantic-era composers.  Second, Russian composers from earlier periods have little reputation.

[BachQ]

........ Only 2 votes for Glinka, "the father of Russian classical music" ..........

[Haffner]

man...... i'd like to change my 6th vote from Rachmaninov to Schnittke. Too late now 

With this I definitely sympathise.