Comparing composers

[liszt-essence]

To go in a bit further on that poll

Everyone shouting their own favourite composer is fun I agree.

But it's pointless don't you agree?

Comparing apples to grapes. They're all so different in styles and so, they all have their own qualities and it's just a matter of taste. I know its a BLOODY cliché..

But that's why it is a cliché in the first place. Because it's the damned truth.

[mikey6]

I hate the whole comparison idea - what's the hardest, who's the best etc.  And from what I gather so do a lot of other people, but unfortunately since the new topic board of 'polls' has gone up, it seems people aren't gonna stop it.

[ilikepie]

Calling a cliché a cliché is cliché.

Anyway... yep, comparison is useless, since no one will give in to the other. Instead, there should be discussions why you like ONE composer, and WHY. There should be no mention of any other name aside from the composer discussed in a forum. In fact, why don't they just make a section for each major composer, and post there(the reasons they like him/her). That should make things easier(or not).
If there should be one rule in the internet, it should be "keep your opinions to yourself". Gah, clichélicious.

[mikey6]

In the published article Satie argued that measuring the "greatness" of an artist by comparing him to other artists, as if speaking about some "truth", is illusory: every piece of music should be judged on its own merits, not by comparing it to the standards of other composers. That was exactly what Jean Cocteau had done, when commenting deprecatingly on Stravinsky in his 1918 Le Coq et l'Arlequin.[1]

[ksnmohan]

You just can't compare such things!

[rc]

Hi, I'm the devils advocate.

Opinions are good, so are comparisons...  So long as they're informative.  A critique.  So take your opinion, but be sure to give reasons WHY you like/dislike something, and use comparisons to show similarities/contrasts.  That is something we can learn from.  Even if I may learn that I don't share the same tastes as you, I could have a bit of an understanding of a different aesthetic.  Maybe even come to appreciate something I didn't like before, through knowing what about it is appealing, knowing what to listen for.

So my beef is more about lazy opinions, who don't bother with explainations and are content just to state their position.  That's a buncha stinky, hot air.  Pfft.

[houseofblackleaves]

Calling a cliché a cliché is cliché.

But calling that a cliche is... *GASP* NOT cliche?? *is hopeful*

[Bob]

In order to compare composers, you've got to be able to define a single composer's style.  Then you can compare.  That trips me up.

[ilikepie]

But calling that a cliche is... *GASP* NOT cliche?? *is hopeful*

perhaps.