Who is your favorite Composer?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

sobriquet

Senior member
Sep 10, 2002
912
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: LiquidImpulse
Hans Zimmer....?

Hans Zimmer, John Williams, and Philip Glass will not be on a poll like this because they aren't great composers. They churn out melodramatic cheese music for movies, not music meant to be appreciated for its own qualities.

You are aware that Philip Glass's work goes far far far beyond film music, yes? From his earliest work to his piano solos to Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten and Satyagraha, he has tons of music that is meant to be "appreciated for its own qualities."
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I'm surprised there have been no votes for Rossini. The overtures of Barber of Seville, Thieving Magpie, William Tell....all great.

I'm also surprised nobody has voted for Schubert. Moment Musical, Erlkonig, and his 8th symphony are great. And don't get me started on Schubert's 9th....WOW. Pwns Beethovens 9th.

I'm sorry I haven't included EVERY composer. It's a good list, so just pick your favorite from it.

It's harder to be a big fan of opera because for the most part you have to go and see it. I've never seen one, so it's harder to judge composers of opera (Rossini, Puccini, Verdi, etc.).
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
5,695
0
0
Originally posted by: Darien
Any particular pieces you guys can recommend to someone just getting into listening classical?

The first symphony I really got into was Bizet's symphony in C. The label Telarc has a great recording of it by Cincinnati...even though I prefer analog recordings over digital.
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: sobriquet
You are aware that Philip Glass's work goes far far far beyond film music, yes? From his earliest work to his piano solos to Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten and Satyagraha, he has tons of music that is meant to be "appreciated for its own qualities."

Yeah, I included Philip Glass even though he's not specifically a film composer because he still fell under the branch of composers who compose music without quality.
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
5,695
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I'm surprised there have been no votes for Rossini. The overtures of Barber of Seville, Thieving Magpie, William Tell....all great.

I'm also surprised nobody has voted for Schubert. Moment Musical, Erlkonig, and his 8th symphony are great. And don't get me started on Schubert's 9th....WOW. Pwns Beethovens 9th.

I'm sorry I haven't included EVERY composer. It's a good list, so just pick your favorite from it.

It's harder to be a big fan of opera because for the most part you have to go and see it. I've never seen one, so it's harder to judge composers of opera (Rossini, Puccini, Verdi, etc.).


I don't care for operas either...that's why I listen to them orchestrated...overtures and suites. The original composers always orchestrated their operas...and in a lot of ways they are more popular.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,285
14,704
146
Originally posted by: Darien
Any particular pieces you guys can recommend to someone just getting into listening classical?


There's a 4 disk set out called "Classical Music for People Who Hate Classical Music". Some GREAT selections in the set.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,285
14,704
146
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I'm surprised there have been no votes for Rossini. The overtures of Barber of Seville, Thieving Magpie, William Tell....all great.

I'm also surprised nobody has voted for Schubert. Moment Musical, Erlkonig, and his 8th symphony are great. And don't get me started on Schubert's 9th....WOW. Pwns Beethovens 9th.

I'm sorry I haven't included EVERY composer. It's a good list, so just pick your favorite from it.

"Kill the wabbit, KILL the wabbit, KILL THE WABBIT!!
 

sobriquet

Senior member
Sep 10, 2002
912
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: sobriquet
You are aware that Philip Glass's work goes far far far beyond film music, yes? From his earliest work to his piano solos to Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten and Satyagraha, he has tons of music that is meant to be "appreciated for its own qualities."

Yeah, I included Philip Glass even though he's not specifically a film composer because he still fell under the branch of composers who compose music without quality.

I'm guessing your definition of "music with quality" largely coincides with "music written before 1900?"
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Oh yeah, I'd also throw Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb into the mix here. They have some very good piano music.
 

pclstyle

Platinum Member
Apr 14, 2004
2,364
0
0
Originally posted by: sobriquet
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: sobriquet
You are aware that Philip Glass's work goes far far far beyond film music, yes? From his earliest work to his piano solos to Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten and Satyagraha, he has tons of music that is meant to be "appreciated for its own qualities."

Yeah, I included Philip Glass even though he's not specifically a film composer because he still fell under the branch of composers who compose music without quality.

I'm guessing your definition of "music with quality" largely coincides with "music written before 1900?"

that's the only kind...


oh- and i'm very willing to get into a debate about this.
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: sobriquet
I'm guessing your definition of "music with quality" largely coincides with "music written before 1900?"

Nope. Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Joseph Lamb (just mentioned him in another post), among others were 20th century composers who wrote great music. Philip Glass just sucks.
 

sobriquet

Senior member
Sep 10, 2002
912
0
0
Originally posted by: pclstyle
Originally posted by: sobriquet
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: sobriquet
You are aware that Philip Glass's work goes far far far beyond film music, yes? From his earliest work to his piano solos to Einstein on the Beach, Akhnaten and Satyagraha, he has tons of music that is meant to be "appreciated for its own qualities."

Yeah, I included Philip Glass even though he's not specifically a film composer because he still fell under the branch of composers who compose music without quality.

I'm guessing your definition of "music with quality" largely coincides with "music written before 1900?"

that's the only kind...


oh- and i'm very willing to get into a debate about this.

Define quality.
 

BlancoNino

Diamond Member
Oct 31, 2005
5,695
0
0
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I'm surprised there have been no votes for Rossini. The overtures of Barber of Seville, Thieving Magpie, William Tell....all great.

I'm also surprised nobody has voted for Schubert. Moment Musical, Erlkonig, and his 8th symphony are great. And don't get me started on Schubert's 9th....WOW. Pwns Beethovens 9th.

I'm sorry I haven't included EVERY composer. It's a good list, so just pick your favorite from it.

"Kill the wabbit, KILL the wabbit, KILL THE WABBIT!!

That's rise of the valkeries, not Barber of Seville. You're thinking

Bugs
"How do? Welcome to my shop, let me cut your mop, let me shave your crop daintily, daintily..."

and later on

Elmer
"Oooh, wait 'till I get that wabbit!"

Bugs (dressed as woman)
"What would you want with a wabbit? Can't you see that I'm much sweeter? I'm your little senioriter"

 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
If we were to mention Philip Glass in the same breath as Bach, why not Yanni, The RZA, or that guy who wrote the music to that diamond commercial? That answer is that none of those people wrote music that is remotely comparable. Just saying.
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: God On Alcohol
u cant go wrong with johann, gthe soothing sound of Canon

50% of composers are named Johann, who are you talking about?
 

sobriquet

Senior member
Sep 10, 2002
912
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
If we were to mention Philip Glass in the same breath as Bach, why not Yanni, The RZA, or that guy who wrote the music to that diamond commercial? That answer is that none of those people wrote music that is remotely comparable. Just saying.

Is Glass a Baroque composer? Was Bach a Minimalist composer? Bach wrote great Baroque music, Glass wrote (and sometimes still writes) great Minimalist music. Why is it so necessary to say that Bach is the greater composer? They exist in completely different times, in completely different styles, and for completely different purposes. Why is there an incessant need to evaluate music against the yardstick of the Western common practice canon? Why can't we just allow that other great music exists on its own?
 

Kirby

Lifer
Apr 10, 2006
12,028
2
0
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: God On Alcohol
u cant go wrong with johann, gthe soothing sound of Canon

50% of composers are named Johann, who are you talking about?

pachebel canon in d, i presume
 

Mathlete

Senior member
Aug 23, 2004
652
0
71
I have always had a soft spot for Muzoursky's(sp?) "Pictures at an Exhibition" so I gotta go with him.

A close second is Glen Danzig. That's right. Glen Fricken Danzig. I have this on vinyl and have been falling asleep to it for years.
 

kogase

Diamond Member
Sep 8, 2004
5,213
0
0
Originally posted by: sobriquet
Originally posted by: kogase
If we were to mention Philip Glass in the same breath as Bach, why not Yanni, The RZA, or that guy who wrote the music to that diamond commercial? That answer is that none of those people wrote music that is remotely comparable. Just saying.

Is Glass a Baroque composer? Was Bach a Minimalist composer? Bach wrote great Baroque music, Glass wrote (and sometimes still writes) great Minimalist music. Why is it so necessary to say that Bach is the greater composer? They exist in completely different times, in completely different styles, and for completely different purposes. Why is there an incessant need to evaluate music against the yardstick of the Western common practice canon? Why can't we just allow that other great music exists on its own?

Because if you limit the scope you limit the findings. Considerably. It's like saying Einstein was one of the smartest people ever who was German, and then saying Cletus J. McPhenus is the smartest guy ever who was from Powicktucket County, Alabama, and then listing them both off in a history of the smartest people who ever lived.
 

sobriquet

Senior member
Sep 10, 2002
912
0
0
Originally posted by: kogase
Originally posted by: sobriquet
Originally posted by: kogase
If we were to mention Philip Glass in the same breath as Bach, why not Yanni, The RZA, or that guy who wrote the music to that diamond commercial? That answer is that none of those people wrote music that is remotely comparable. Just saying.

Is Glass a Baroque composer? Was Bach a Minimalist composer? Bach wrote great Baroque music, Glass wrote (and sometimes still writes) great Minimalist music. Why is it so necessary to say that Bach is the greater composer? They exist in completely different times, in completely different styles, and for completely different purposes. Why is there an incessant need to evaluate music against the yardstick of the Western common practice canon? Why can't we just allow that other great music exists on its own?

Because if you limit the scope you limit the findings. Considerably. It's like saying Einstein was one of the smartest people ever who was German, and then saying Cletus J. McPhenus is the smartest guy ever who was from Powicktucket County, Alabama, and then listing them both off in a history of the smartest people who ever lived.

Well obviously you're convinced that Glass is comparable to an inbred hick and I'm convinced he's not, so this is going nowhere.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
66,285
14,704
146
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: BlancoNino
I'm surprised there have been no votes for Rossini. The overtures of Barber of Seville, Thieving Magpie, William Tell....all great.

I'm also surprised nobody has voted for Schubert. Moment Musical, Erlkonig, and his 8th symphony are great. And don't get me started on Schubert's 9th....WOW. Pwns Beethovens 9th.

I'm sorry I haven't included EVERY composer. It's a good list, so just pick your favorite from it.

"Kill the wabbit, KILL the wabbit, KILL THE WABBIT!!

That's rise of the valkeries, not Barber of Seville. You're thinking

Bugs
"How do? Welcome to my shop, let me cut your mop, let me shave your crop daintily, daintily..."

and later on

Elmer
"Oooh, wait 'till I get that wabbit!"

Bugs (dressed as woman)
"What would you want with a wabbit? Can't you see that I'm much sweeter? I'm your little senioriter"

Yeah, had forgotten those lines. Like this classic:
"There, you're nice and clean...although your face looks-like-it-might-have-gone-through a ma-chine"
http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/7/7a/The_Rabbit_of_Seville.png

Kids growing up in the 50's, 60's and after can thank Warner Bros and Looney Tunes for exposing them to classical music...even if it was occasionally "modified" to fit the cartoon...