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Poll: Best Composer of the 20th Century is?

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AtomicBomberman:

Same problem as Elfman. They are both talented composers, and of the two I'd say Williams is closer to top 10 material. Just my prejudice though. 😛 On my initial list Williams was scribbled on the side, but didn't make the top 20. I've been listening to classical music for 50 years, so a lot of my prejudices are for older European composers. No women, no Hispanics. Mostly dead white males.
 
Johnny: He, he, Billy Joel is classically trained I believe. He is one damn fine musician. I wouldn't knock him at all. His music is very good. He has plenty of time left to write in a different genre. Thanks for the heads up if it's true.

Did you get the memory I sent you with the rave concert stamp on it? 😛
 
If I get the poll fixed, I'll put Williams in as a replacement for Glass, and Sibelius as a replacement for Copland. Concessions to the vox populii!

 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Shulamit Ran, the Israeli composer. Her work is being played to critical acclaim. I heard her "Symphonic Poem for Piano and Orchestra" several years ago. Her work has a very definite ethnic flavor and is not for everyone.
 
Isla:

By the way, I also have Skitch Henderson's autograph (assuming that's who you meant). And, who was the fellow who wrote the music for Pink Panther? He's dead now and gee I can't remember his name. I have his autograph as well somewhere around here. I have Pablo Casals' autograph on a violin case, but it's barely readable any more. Other autographs include Glynnis Johns (A Little Night Music), and Renata Tibaldi (Tosca?). You probably wouldn't be interested in my Bob Feller autograph....
 
Hi again, Chess...

Sounds like a great collection! Yes, I meant Skitch H, figured you would know who I meant. You have a Henry Mancini (Pink Panther, Moon River, The Baby Elephant Walk!!!!!!) autograph? Now he is a REAL favorite of mine! My husband pretty much grew up with these guys. He met Henry Mancini a few times when he was a little boy hanging out with his dad. My FIL is a very lovely person and played the bassoon before getting into the business end of things.

If you ever plan to come to my city, look me up and I will get you comp tickets for whatever concert is playing. 🙂
 
I'm a late 17th-early 18th century fan, not much into 20th century classical music but my choice for that era would be Camille Saint-Saëns, Aram Il'Yich Khachaturian & John Williams.

Water Music Suites (Handel)

 
Wow. I really can't say for sure becuase different styles are hard to compare.

1. Bela Bartok
2. Alexander Scriabin (Even Rachmaninoff conceded that he was a better composer)
3. Igor Stravinsky
4. Richard Strauss
5. Dmitri Shostakovich
6. Sergei Prokofiev
7. Paul Hindemith
8. Gustav Mahler
9. Ottorio Respighi
10. Samuel Barber
11. Aaron Copland

And I'd keep going. 20th century is by far my favorite genre of classical music. I used to be a romantic/impressionist buff, but I think my jazz training allowed my ear to understand the dissonaces of 20th century pieces better.
 
Stravinsky is my favorite. The Rite of Spring is one of the most amazing pieces of music. John Williams ripped off so many musical themes for Star Wars from it. 🙂

I'm surprised few people have mentioned Gustav Holst (The Planets).

Oh, and while in a slightly differently musical style, I'd have to include Pink Floyd for some of their musical epics, which mixed classical composing with pyschadelic rock (Atom Heart Mother, Echoes, Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Dogs).
 


<< Hmm.. wonder why no one mention John Williams? >>



I'll second that. 🙂 He writes some great stuff!
 
Man, reading all these replies reminds me that I haven't dug out my classical cds in a while... Yeah! Bartok, Stravinsky!

You should see our collection.... Everything from NIN and the Clash to Jupiter/ The Planets and Ravel. We have a musical multiple personality around here. 🙂

Remember the 70's rendition of Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring? I drove my piano teacher nuts 'cause I played that piece like it was a rock opera. 😀 Same with Minuet in G AKA as
&quot;The Lover's Concerto&quot;

'nite!
 
Isla:

Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it! I see you are in No City, Florida! The world's favorite tourist destination!! Anyway, yes, Henry Mancini. Met him at the Kennedy Center with a bunch of other well-known people (what was I doing there?). He was very ascerbic. Not as friendly as he looks from a distance.


Regarding John Williams, he is popular because of his movie scores principally, but I don't think he can hold a candle to guys not in the original survey (what survey?) like Sibelius, Holst, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich. We haven't even mentioned Orff, and only Isla has mentioned Ravel and Bartok. Skriabin is certainly NOT very popular among the generally public, but was a talented composer. One friend calls him Screechabin. PianoMan, being a piano player and liking dissonance, WOULD love Skriabin. Some of his work is very difficult to play and listen to. And then there's Nicholas Cage, who is very inventive. I just can't see John Williams being a top tenner yet, but if we get this survey fixed today, I'll stick him on the list. I agree with Sohcan on that score, so to speak.

Pink Floyd would be very difficult to justify to the Chairman of a Music Department at a major university, but I love their music. They are off-genre anyway.

And what about Strauss? 2001, and nobody is pining for Strauss? 😛 Der Rosenkavalier has no fans here? I would put him way above Williams, but maybe I need to listen to less Strauss and more Williams. 😛

PianoMan: As a whole, I agree about the 20th Century. My favorite composer is still Mozart and my favorite piece is actually Dvorak's B Minor Cello Concerto. Zoom, da da zoom! 😛

yakko: Debussy made my top 10.


Dennil: I'd take Saint-Saens and Aram Khatchaturian ahead of Williams, I think.

Interesting thread for a failed poll!

 
Ennio Morricone(movie)
Paul Hindemith(classic)
Queen(Pop/Rock)
The Bird(Jazz)

OT:Chess9:

<< Where are the mods when you need one. If I had farted, they'd be here clearing the room. >>



ROTFL this is classic 😀
 
Nickadick:

Thanks. I now realize I left out the question mark, which I've edited. I usually don't stay up that late, but I love classical music. I wish I could get this thing fixed, though.
 
Johnny:

You mean the one with ELO? Or is there another one? He also had classical training as I recall. I have an ELO RECORD, believe it or not! I have one of their cds, but don't recall which. Haven't listened to their stuff in years.
 
Yes. Louis Clark. The guy who did the orchestral arrangements for ELO.

He was ORIGINALLY a composer before hired for ELO. He also did some work for Ozzy Osbourne (remember the strings in &quot;So Tired&quot;?) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (you may want to check out the Royal Philharmonic's collection of Queen hits as well as the orchestration on Asia's 1985 album &quot;Astra&quot😉.

Of course we can't forget Hooked on Classics.....

....well maybe we'd like to. :Q Sorry about that. That was partially his fault.

Anyhoo... he had some really awesome compositions in there over the years and was very cross-genre capable. 😉


 
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