Prokofiev or Shostakovich

[contrapunctus]

Who wrote better music in your opinion. Prokofiev or Shostakovich. I would have to say that they are pretty equal to me in orchestral works. However, I have not heard any piano works by Shostakovich. Did he write a lot of piano music?

[randmc]

 

[pies]

I would have to say Prokofiev.

I have not heard any piano works by Shostakovich. Did he write a lot of piano music?

I don't think he wrote much for piano, but then again, I don't know much about him.
However, I think it's safe to say that his most popular piano work is his 24 Preludes and Fugues.

[arensky]

I think Prokofiev was the originator of the early 20th Century Russian stye of composition that we now call "Soviet" music; I don't thnk that Shostakovich as we know him could exist without Prokofiev, the young Shostakovich modeled himself on and was influenced by Prokofiev. Of course this does not make Prokofiev the better composer, but I feel that his works are more inspired and planned out better; Shostakovich particularly in his later years just cranked out formulaic Soviet music, as he was told to; he was unhappy and it shows. But I do think he was the greatest symphonist of the 20th Century, at least up to Symphony #8. But Prokofiev has the edge in piano music and ballet and non-sonata form orchetral pieces. They were both excellent at song and chamber music. But I have to give Prokofiev the edge, IMO his music flows more easily and avouds cliches, which is a drawback with Shostakovich, a lot of his music sounds alike IMO....

[alessandro]

Prokofiev wrote in my opinion one of the most spectacular pianomusic I've ever heard.  I'm talking by instance of the third movement in his third pianoconcerto.  Shostakovitch is in my eyes a bit of a nerd, a 'selfcompassionate' freak. I think his music is often deliberately ugly.  He's too much of a 'reactionist' and too much disturbance becomes annoying.  But Prokofiev is huge, a man with a lot of breath that can make powerful, stormy music that often is an immensely touching combination of deep grief, rage, hope and joy-after-all.

[BoliverAllmon]

I prefer Shostakovich over Prokofiev quite easily. Shosty didn't write very much piano music at all, but his orchestral works tower over prokofiev.  I doubt Prokofiev influenced Shosty growing up.  prokofiev left for the USA when shosty was 8 or 9. shosty didn't even start to take piano lessons until he was nine. Once prokofiev left he wasn't looked favorably upon in Russia for quite some time. He was looked upon as a deserter. It wasn't until later when he returned that he started winning the Russian crowds back.

boliver

[lisztisforkids]

Shostakovichs works to me seem like they are much more deeper and emotionally ridden than prokofief.

[rob47]

prokofiev sonata no. 8 is just incredible

shostakovich Symphony for Strings is just incredible.

[BoliverAllmon]

prokofiev sonata no. 8 is just incredible

shostakovich Symphony for Strings is just incredible.

I agree on the shosty, not familiar with the prokofiev.

I was thinking about the two composers today on my ride up to school. Both can insert humor into their music, but in completely different ways. As an analogy, I put Prokofiev's humor with the movie "dumb and dumber", that is very goofy humor (love of three oranges for instance). Shosty on the other hand I relate to "Napoleon Dynamite." this is a broad generalization I know, but that is how I think of the two in terms of humor.

I also tend to think of Prokofiev as mainstream emotionally. Whereas shosty is more artistic emotionally. Let me clarify. Look at mainstream music, you know exactly what emotions are meant to be portrayed and for what reason. (for the most part) that is what I see in Prokofiev, you know exactly what he is writing and what he is saying (doesn't mean he does it in a bad way though, he is still a very good composer). Artistic or non-mainstream music isn't always so easy to tell what the meaning of music, poem, painting, or whatever else is. That is what shosty is all about. His music is full of smoke and mirrors.

Neither one is wrong in how they composed, just different. That is why I say that I "prefer" shosty over prokofiev.

boliver

[Dazzer]

isn't shosty's piano concerto missing here. isn't that one gorgeous 2nd mvt.

unfortunately the same can't be said for his prelude and fugues... - shiver - i tried one of them and i swear i could have cried. from frustration.

[BoliverAllmon]

I played two preludes and worked on one fugue before, they are wonderful. His PC 2 is amazing all around. the second mvt. is quite romantic. I played the first mvt. and just love the thing. listen to shosty performing it himself.

[vladhorwz]

Shostakovich. Did he write a lot of piano music?

I saw Olga Kern play 3 Shostakovich Preludes this weekend, no. 21 in B-flat major was awesome, except I don't think he wrote it to have a cell phone go off after the first few measures.    Its a great piece and she played it extremely well.
But to answer the question....Prokofiev

[Jacey1973]

I love Shostakovich's 3 Fantastic Dances (for piano - anyone played them?)- they are so cute and playable! I also adore lots of Shost's orchestral stuff (so amny good tunes!), but for piano i think Prokofiev is definitely the more important of the 2.

[brahmsian]

Prokofiev wrote in my opinion one of the most spectacular pianomusic I've ever heard. I'm talking by instance of the third movement in his third pianoconcerto. Shostakovitch is in my eyes a bit of a nerd, a 'selfcompassionate' freak. I think his music is often deliberately ugly. He's too much of a 'reactionist' and too much disturbance becomes annoying. But Prokofiev is huge, a man with a lot of breath that can make powerful, stormy music that often is an immensely touching combination of deep grief, rage, hope and joy-after-all.

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                                                           What they said

[pies]

I've been thinking of changing my position.  Recently, I've been listening to more and more of Shostakovich's 24 Preludes + Fugues and although they're distinctly different from Prokofiev's style, they're exciting pieces nonetheless.
I need to listen to more Shostakovich.

[Tash]

well prokofiev is one of my absolute top composers, but then again i have listened to a lot more of his works that shostakovich. however i do love shostakovich- like his string quartets and symphonies, and preludes and fugues. so i think if i wanted to answer this properly i'd have to listen to some more shostakovich and learn more about both their music, beause i'm sick of writing subjective comments in these threads!

[apion]

I'm a super-huge Shostakovich fan, and I love many of his symphonies, but Prokofiev is a balanced perfectionist with great expanses of inspiration; Prokofiev strikes me as a true successor to Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, and Mahler.  Prokofiev composed one of the top-5 piano concerti of all time (his PC #3); one of the greatest ballets (Romeo and Juliet); one of the greatest violin concerti (VC #2); one of the greatest symphonies (#5) .... and so much great piano music.

[donjuan]

what I cant understand for the life of me is how you can give a choice "I hate both of them", yet no choice of "I like both of them".  its quite ok to not choose one over the other.  Both very fine, very different composers.

[zemos]

what I cant understand for the life of me is how you can give a choice "I hate both of them", yet no choice of "I like both of them".  its quite ok to not choose one over the other.  Both very fine, very different composers.

Exactly! why isn't there a choice of "I like them both"?
Well, I really like them both very much, they're just great, each one with his personal style.
I'm surprised no one mentioned Shostakovich's String Quartets, some of them are so genius! I like the most no. 8&9. (:

[BoliverAllmon]

his quartets were mentioned. Rob mention his symphony for strings that is quartet no. 8.

boliver

I have the whole set and love them all!!!!!!

[Tash]

i mentioned them too....cos they're the bomb

[burstroman]

Does anyone have an opinion about the Shostakovich, piano sonata #1?  I once heard it referred to as "uncompromising", which didn't mean much until I finally got a recording of it.  It's not easy listening.