Top 10 composers since the late Baroque

[randy_byers]

Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times is compiling a list of the ten greatest composers since the late Baroque era. His first definite choice is J.S. Bach. However, the article in the series he's writing on the topic that caught my eye today is the one on 20th Century composers. He says two will definitely make his list: Debussy and Stravinsky. Two others are maybes: Britten and Bartok. He gives his reasons, and they are interesting. He ends with a question: "So whom are we missing? Any votes for Shostakovich? Prokofiev? Messiaen? Ligeti?"

Thought this might be of interest to at least a few of you. Meanwhile, I need to listen to more Stravinsky, and I never did get a copy of Britten's opera, The Turn of the Screw. His A Midsummer Night's Dream was one of my great musical discoveries last year.

Comments

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to play "greatest", because what makes great? Surely "influential" is prominent, and the most influential composer of the century after Stravinsky was Schoenberg, but, though not negligible, is he truly great in any other way?

I will, however, name my ten favorite 20th century composers, chosen by the simple technique of how much music of their I have in my collection. This is just 20th century composers, mind you.

1. Dmitri Shostakovich
2. Serge Prokofiev
3. Alan Hovhaness
4. Philip Glass
5. Ralph Vaughan Williams
6. Malcolm Arnold
7. Henry Cowell
8. Jean Sibelius
9. Carl Nielsen
10. Aaron Copland

Stravinsky is 11th, Britten 13th, Debussy 24th, Bartok 25th, Messiaen (whom I actually like) 51st, and Ligeti (whom I don't) 233rd.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Where does John Adams fall on that list? Harmonielehre was another of my great musical discoveries of 2010.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

Adams squeezes in to the top 20.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Come to think of it, my Debussy collection expanded last year as well, particularly chamber and piano music.

[kate-schaefer.livejournal.com]

Stravinsky is so far ahead of everyone else in my estimation of 20th century composers that I have a hard time adding anyone to a list consisting of Stravinsky.

If I added to that list, Shostakovich would be on it long before Debussy. Britton, Bartok, and Prokofiev would be on it before Debussy, though I concede that my fondness for Prokofiev is sentimental (that is, his music hits me emotionally) rather than built on strict musical grounds.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

So what do you recommend by Stravinksy? I'm most familiar with Rite of Spring, which I love. I'm pretty familiar with The Firebird as well. I heard Symphony of Psalms once many years ago. I think I've heard Petrushka too. I keep thinking I should give A Rake's Progress a try. Or maybe the Octet. It almost seems like I have a recording of the Octet somewhere.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

The early ballets, to which Pulcinella should be added to the ones you list, are generally considered the center of Stravinsky's output. Liking symphonies, as I do, I'd certainly recommend Symphony of Psalms and Symphony in Three Movements, both fabulous pieces, though very different from typical 20C symphonies (and from each other, too).

[voidampersand.livejournal.com]

I saw the Joffrey Ballet reconstruction of le sacre du printemps with live orchestra and it was fantastic in every way. It would be worth a plane ticket to Chicago to see it, it's that good. But my interest in Stravinsky falls off rapidly after that piece. Shostakovich is awesome. I find some of his works challenging, but in a good way. Others of his works get me every time. Especially when conducted by Rostropovich.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I've heard a few pieces by Shostakovich, mainly chamber pieces. Nothing has really grabbed me yet, although I guess I did hear a live performance of a piano trio that blew me away. The recording I've heard of the same piece didn't captivate in the same way.