Who's your favourite composer and why?

[cjcarrington97]

I would love to find out who your favourite composers were and your opinion on why their music attracts you.
I guess it would only be fair as if I were to tell you who my favourite composer is. So here it is, BEETHOVEN. I find that Beethoven's originality and music just seems to work so well with me. I wasn't always interested in classical music, probably only when I heard the "Presto Agitato" of the Op.27 No.2 Sonata, did that open the realms of classical piano music. Listening to that opened the doors to many other great pieces I never even knew of.

Feel free to express your views!

[lhommearme]

Hard to pick a favorite, but at the top of the list is J.S.Bach. Academic and dry to the non playing public, but a wealth of great music to us pianist. I owe a great deal to his works in developing my technique.I see him as laying the foundation on wich the classical music house was built. Many of us started there and go back to visit often. Bach is like home to me.

[pbryld]

Liszt.

His music is the epitome of beauty, emotion and grandeur. Bénédiction de dieu dans la solitude is probably the best example of this; It's one of the best pieces ever written.

[lhommearme]

Liszt is at the top of my list aswell.His music is a masterpiece of westerm civilization.Love it!

[prok_2]

I'll go for Prokofiev - full of drama and expression Have a listen to his second piano concerto and you''l know exactly why I love his music so much 

[cjcarrington97]

Hard to pick a favorite, but at the top of the list is J.S.Bach. Academic and dry to the non playing public, but a wealth of great music to us pianist. I owe a great deal to his works in developing my technique.I see him as laying the foundation on wich the classical music house was built. Many of us started there and go back to visit often. Bach is like home to me.

I find that this is very true actually, I mean they say that Bach's Preludes and Fugues were like the Old Testament of Classical music and Beethoven's 32 sonatas were the new testament. 

Liszt.

His music is the epitome of beauty, emotion and grandeur. Bénédiction de dieu dans la solitude is probably the best example of this; It's one of the best pieces ever written.

Liszt is at the top of my list aswell.His music is a masterpiece of westerm civilization.Love it!

I also respect your views as well! I don't know, I always found Liszt to be a little bit 'manufactured'.

I'll go for Prokofiev - full of drama and expression Have a listen to his second piano concerto and you''l know exactly why I love his music so much 

And Hmmm I should really start listening to Prokofiev as I have not really heard any of his music I don't think.
Thanks for the posts!

[pbryld]

I also respect your views as well! I don't know, I always found Liszt to be a little bit 'manufactured'.

I would agree on this on the Marches For Whoevers etc. But how could Un Sospiro ever sound like that?

[cjcarrington97]

I would agree on this on the Marches For Whoevers etc. But how could Un Sospiro ever sound like that?

Hmmm I see what you mean, don't get me wrong, I love Liszt's music, it's just that all his 'showy' pieces that I was probably more endorsed around seemed this way, and for me, it suddenly kinda felt like it wasn't about music, but was more about how fast and how much flashy technique could be put into a piece to make people faint at the sight of his expertise. Liszt probably comes in my top 5 of my favourite composers nevertheless.

[chopinspride]

Chopin because of the Ballades. I believe these to be the greatest music ever written.

[cranston53]

I suppose I would have to say Rachmaninoff. I know what a good number of people wince slightly at his name - Alfred Brendel said something along the lines that 'life was too short for bad wine and Rachmaninoff'. A strangely spiteful phrase, but there is no getting round the fact he is looked down upon.

Perhaps it's his unashamed romantacism (in certain pieces), perhaps his popularity, but perhaps mainly because there are so many bad recordings of his work. He is one of those poor composers who pianists feel the need to 'interpret'. I'm all for a little personal impression, but some of the liberties taken with his work are gruesome.

Anyway, I'm getting off track - why do I like him. Firstly, his melodic gift was in my opinion the greatest of the 20th century (with Gershwin taking silver medal). Secondly, as a young man, piano was my burning ambition, and that ambition found no greater source than the Rachmaninoff preludes and etudes. Funnily enough, although I love his concertos, it's his small solo piano repetoire that commanded my attention for some 10 or so years. Many of those works are forged into my fingers.

I quite readily admit that he is a minor composer next to the likes of Chopin and Liszt. But neither of them have taken me in the same way.

Scriabin would likely be my second choice.

[hastur]

I suppose I would have to say Rachmaninoff. I know what a good number of people wince slightly at his name - Alfred Brendel said something along the lines that 'life was too short for bad wine and Rachmaninoff'. A strangely spiteful phrase, but there is no getting round the fact he is looked down upon.

Perhaps it's his unashamed romantacism (in certain pieces), perhaps his popularity, but perhaps mainly because there are so many bad recordings of his work. He is one of those poor composers who pianists feel the need to 'interpret'. I'm all for a little personal impression, but some of the liberties taken with his work are gruesome.

Anyway, I'm getting off track - why do I like him. Firstly, his melodic gift was in my opinion the greatest of the 20th century (with Gershwin taking silver medal). Secondly, as a young man, piano was my burning ambition, and that ambition found no greater source than the Rachmaninoff preludes and etudes. Funnily enough, although I love his concertos, it's his small solo piano repetoire that commanded my attention for some 10 or so years. Many of those works are forged into my fingers.

I quite readily admit that he is a minor composer next to the likes of Chopin and Liszt. But neither of them have taken me in the same way.

Scriabin would likely be my second choice.

Rachmaninoff is easily my favourite, closely followed by Chopin.

The first time I heard his second piano concerto I was head over heels in love. When I later digged through his other work I found myself growing fonder by the minute. His pieces are filled with emotion and expression, and I like that sort of thing. He also made some fun pieces like his etude dubbed "Little Red Riding Hood".

[cjcarrington97]

Chopin because of the Ballades. I believe these to be the greatest music ever written.

I have to admit, I've only heard properly the ol' Op.23 No.1 Ballade, but that piece, after a lot of thought seemed to portray quite a lot of my life, and well, being only 14, I guess, my childhood then!
So I can understand this, but, if you wouldn't mind, could you go into more detail about how it's, in your opinion, the greatest music ever written? I'm intrigued to find out! 

I suppose I would have to say Rachmaninoff. I know what a good number of people wince slightly at his name - Alfred Brendel said something along the lines that 'life was too short for bad wine and Rachmaninoff'. A strangely spiteful phrase, but there is no getting round the fact he is looked down upon.

Perhaps it's his unashamed romantacism (in certain pieces), perhaps his popularity, but perhaps mainly because there are so many bad recordings of his work. He is one of those poor composers who pianists feel the need to 'interpret'. I'm all for a little personal impression, but some of the liberties taken with his work are gruesome.

Anyway, I'm getting off track - why do I like him. Firstly, his melodic gift was in my opinion the greatest of the 20th century (with Gershwin taking silver medal). Secondly, as a young man, piano was my burning ambition, and that ambition found no greater source than the Rachmaninoff preludes and etudes. Funnily enough, although I love his concertos, it's his small solo piano repetoire that commanded my attention for some 10 or so years. Many of those works are forged into my fingers.

I quite readily admit that he is a minor composer next to the likes of Chopin and Liszt. But neither of them have taken me in the same way.

Scriabin would likely be my second choice.

WOW, sorry, I'm just so shocked at what Brendel said, it took me a while to work out what he was saying at first, and then the penny dropped and I burst into hysterics!
And a little story I have that first introduced me into Rachmaninoff and his works, probably was when I asked my music teacher at school to play something I hadn't heard, because I mean, by then I'd literally forced him to play what he knew, Pathetique, Heroic Polonaise, you name it, but when he played the Op.3 No.2, I was so shocked I must admit. Cause a childish thing to do would be to dismiss it because of the Lento beginning, and then when it broke out into agitato, I was amazed  And then all the preludes and such fell from that for me to listen to.

Rachmaninoff is easily my favourite, closely followed by Chopin.

The first time I heard his second piano concerto I was head over heels in love. When I later digged through his other work I found myself growing fonder by the minute. His pieces are filled with emotion and expression, and I like that sort of thing. He also made some fun pieces like his etude dubbed "Little Red Riding Hood".

Amazing we all know Rachmaninoff's second Piano concerto is, and it seems to catch everyone's attention in romanticism and such! And the part saying you found yourself growing fonder by the minute in his works, that is probably exactly the same thing I can say about Beethoven for me!
And I lastly must admit, when I first heard the 'Little Red Riding Hood' etude, there were such random parts, even the blank pauses in the piece which really did make me chuckle! 

Thanks guys for all of the posts, I really am fascinated by what you have to share and I am really appreciative of it. It looks like so far Liszt and Rachmaninoff are the people's favourite so far! I'm actually quite suprised cause I'd of thought Mozart and all the other famous, and boldly to say, maybe slightly overrated composers would be out, nevertheless I welcome everyone's opinions and respect them fully! 

[supapiano225]

Chopin, no one can beat Chopin in my opinion, particularly the fourth ballade and the

nocturnes. i pretty much love everything he wrote!

running up is Mendelssohn


then Mozart

then liszt.

[liszt_ani_rach]

My favorite composers would be three, Chopin , Liszt and Rachmaninoff.
Chopin composed several beautiful pieces, like his scherzi, ballades, sonatas and nocturnes.
Liszt composed sever difficult pieces that sound great but need tonnes of virtuosity, like La Campanella, Sonata in B minor, Hungarian Rhapsodies,etc.
I like the Prelude in C sharp minor by Rachmaninoff..
But I would vote for Liszt's music.
Therefore, he's my favorite composer.

[cjcarrington97]

Chopin, no one can beat Chopin in my opinion, particularly the fourth ballade and the

nocturnes. i pretty much love everything he wrote!

running up is Mendelssohn


then Mozart

then liszt.

Thanks for the post, and Chopin and Liszt again? Why has no-one said Beethoven yet? 
And a bit of a newbie, Mendelssohn? I have to admit, I do like his music quite a bit to be fair, (even though I've only heard little more than about 15 of his piano works >.< )

My favorite composers would be three, Chopin , Liszt and Rachmaninoff.
Chopin composed several beautiful pieces, like his scherzi, ballades, sonatas and nocturnes.
Liszt composed sever difficult pieces that sound great but need tonnes of virtuosity, like La Campanella, Sonata in B minor, Hungarian Rhapsodies,etc.
I like the Prelude in C sharp minor by Rachmaninoff..
But I would vote for Liszt's music.
Therefore, he's my favorite composer.

And I appreciate and respect your reasons justifying why the 3, or rather, ultimately, Liszt is your favourite. And I must admit that the La Campanella to me is probably my favourite piece by him, (more cause it made me realise how much virtuosity I had when I learned the 'octavy' ending!  )

So at the moment, Liszt and Chopin seem to remain! Keep the posts coming!

[healdie]

Why has no-one said Beethoven yet? 

I've never gotten on with Beethoven particularly I tend to share Goulds views with much of it, I think some of the string quartets are fantastic and so are some of the Symphonies but I've never liked his piano music obviously though I would be a fool to deny his influence on music though (incoming controversial statement) I tend to think of him almost as the Jimi Hendrix of classical music what he did was groundbreaking and has revolutionised music as we know it, but I think there are so many composers who have done it better since

My favourites (are we talking only piano music or all music?) I would say Shostakovich, Bach and then maybe Webern (with Messiaen and Gerswhin) closely following

[cjcarrington97]

I've never gotten on with Beethoven particularly I tend to share Goulds views with much of it, I think some of the string quartets are fantastic and so are some of the Symphonies but I've never liked his piano music obviously though I would be a fool to deny his influence on music though (incoming controversial statement) I tend to think of him almost as the Jimi Hendrix of classical music what he did was groundbreaking and has revolutionised music as we know it, but I think there are so many composers who have done it better since

My favourites (are we talking only piano music or all music?) I would say Shostakovich, Bach and then maybe Webern (with Messiaen and Gerswhin) closely following

Thank you for the post! And ahhh, you guys are missing out! 
But anyway, I can understand your opinion fully with the Jimi Hendrix idea as well.
And Shostakovich? Wasn't he the one who seemed to be permanently ticked off about something with good reason? That's what I heard.
And I love Bach, it would probably come second in terms of my top 5.
And don't worry, I don't mind whether you talk about piano or all music. It's just I can talk about something with piano music, but, as I don't really listen to massive 'orchestral works' over than piano concertos, it's hard to relate.

[healdie]

And ahhh, you guys are missing out! 

Ha ha funny you should say that because often I do feel like I'm missing out, obviously you hear so much about Beethoven and his works I occasionally feel compelled to learn some, but not long after starting a piece I find that my books of Schubert and Brahms just start calling out to me louder than the Beethoven and I change back

and yes you could say that Shostakovich was ticked off, he was one of the Russian composers who remained in the Soviet Union throughout Stalins reign and of course suffered for it, having to live under Stalins stirct rules as very difficult for many artists as anything deemed "Ideologically unsuitable" would lead to a public bashing and your reputation destroyed, for example when Shostakovichs opera Lady macbeth was premiered it was initially meet with good reviews but as soon as Stalin expressed his intense dislike for it the public also turned against the work. Many artists lived in fear of arrest and execution and many did meet that fate Shostakovich was lucky but only survived by a hair. So, much of Shostakovichs' work is quite dark and miserable there are moments of lightness about, the Jazz suites jump to mind but he is known as a fairly dark composer (albeit a powerful and beautiful one)

[cjcarrington97]

Ha ha funny you should say that because often I do feel like I'm missing out, obviously you hear so much about Beethoven and his works I occasionally feel compelled to learn some, but not long after starting a piece I find that my books of Schubert and Brahms just start calling out to me louder than the Beethoven and I change back

Ahhh well I guess everyone is entitled to their own music! 
I haven't heard much Schubert, or Brahms to be fair, I shall be looking at the piano sonatas, at least to listen, online sooner or later.
And I don't know, it's something about Beethoven that just reels me in I guess. I find most of the other composers, for me, have soooo many rules I can't cope with very well, and I just seem to understand Beethoven best! Probably the reason why I'm quite good at interpreting Bach as it doesn't have much rules and can for me, be REAL fun to play! 

And oooh I see, with the Shostakovich thing... I didn't really know this, but I do like some of his works. It's just that some others are quite a little too 'abstract' for my liking. I shall try and listen to these Jazz Suites of his you speak of.
Thank you again for this post, I look forward to many more!

[brogers70]

Bach, hands down, for me. It's complicated, structured and mathematical, and also very emotional. Look at the Musical Offering - it's full of complex canons clearly inspired by math or geometry, but the Ricercar a 6 is as romantic a piece as you could want.

I love Brahms, Schubert, and Beethoven, too, but I could imagine getting tired of hearing them eventually. But in Bach there is always something more to hear even after you've heard a piece 50 times. Who else can make endless streams of 16th notes so complicated, beautiful and interesting?

[cjcarrington97]

Bach, hands down, for me. It's complicated, structured and mathematical, and also very emotional. Look at the Musical Offering - it's full of complex canons clearly inspired by math or geometry, but the Ricercar a 6 is as romantic a piece as you could want.

I love Brahms, Schubert, and Beethoven, too, but I could imagine getting tired of hearing them eventually. But in Bach there is always something more to hear even after you've heard a piece 50 times. Who else can make endless streams of 16th notes so complicated, beautiful and interesting?

For me, that is perfectly understandable as I love Bach, and I can't play masses of repertoire, but I find Bach easiest to play professionally because of all of the little intricate details that just work.
I shall try and look at the pieces you recommend, as it is furthering my knowledge of music.
I'd love to know exactly the mathematics he uses in his work though, but I often find myself crowded with papers full of algebra! 
And ahhh I don't think I can be, ever, permanently put off of Beethoven. I've loved him since I was 12, and still love him now.

[ryan2189]

This is a great question! I'm going to throw a completely new name into this pool, one I don't think is mentioned very often on this forum. For me it has to be Ravel. His music just reaches such a high level of emotion and sentimentality for me. I think of the String Quartet, Jeux d'eau, Introduction and Allegro, and Daphnis and Chloe as some of my favorites. His orchestration is brilliant and I feel like he reached the highest limit of tonal color possible.

And of course I love many other composers, such as the ones mentioned, but for some reason Ravel's music has always been the most personal and individual for me.

[tmickel]

Bach/Chopin   

I love Bach, especially the fugue's, because the pieces are a challenge to learn but after any given one has been mastered it just keeps giving.

Chopin, always a favorite.

Favorite Concertos = Rachmaninoff #2 and Prokofiev #3

if all those composers came on the radio at the same time, different stations of course, and i had to choose, hmmmm tough decision for me.

[hastur]

Just felt that I had to add that Brahms' symphonies are pretty damn amazing.

[cjcarrington97]

This is a great question! I'm going to throw a completely new name into this pool, one I don't think is mentioned very often on this forum. For me it has to be Ravel. His music just reaches such a high level of emotion and sentimentality for me. I think of the String Quartet, Jeux d'eau, Introduction and Allegro, and Daphnis and Chloe as some of my favorites. His orchestration is brilliant and I feel like he reached the highest limit of tonal color possible.

And of course I love many other composers, such as the ones mentioned, but for some reason Ravel's music has always been the most personal and individual for me.

Thanks for the post!  And to be fair, the only music of Ravel that I have heard is probably some of the parts of gaspard de la nuit. I have also heard most of the first movement of his piano concerto. But that was ages ago!

Bach/Chopin   

I love Bach, especially the fugue's, because the pieces are a challenge to learn but after any given one has been mastered it just keeps giving.

Chopin, always a favorite.

Favorite Concertos = Rachmaninoff #2 and Prokofiev #3

if all those composers came on the radio at the same time, different stations of course, and i had to choose, hmmmm tough decision for me.

Something I always wished I understood, was how he managed to create these fugues so quickly. I mean he could sit and write music, probably heavily endorsed in counterpoint and it make incredible sense! I will probably try and do research into the Bach prelude and fugues.

And ahhh Chopin seems to be the favourite >.<

Just felt that I had to add that Brahms' symphonies are pretty damn amazing.

And I don't particularly listen to orchestral works, but for now, I'll take your word for it!

[healdie]

And ahhh Chopin seems to be the favourite >.<

Well I do enjoy breaking trends because as far as piano music concerned I don't like the Romantics and struggle especially with Chopin the only Romantic for Piano music I can consistently listen to is Brahms

I like strange harmonies (I was going to use the word interesting but decided against it) so Jazzy dissonances and things are my bag I do find it strange that much of the 20th century rep get ignored so. As I far it the most diverse of the general eras, you have Schoenbergs tone rows, you get Coplands Jazzy influences Debussys colourful harmonies, Shostakovich's aggression and Sorrow and a lot of people who were inspired by the Romantic and Classical traditions like Hindesmith and I've barley traversed 1950 here this is only half of the century 

[outin]

Above everyone else is Chopin. Even during the years that I hardly listened to classical at all, I’ve always needed my dose of Chopin every now and then. Now that I have started piano again my understanding and enjoyment of it has just grown.

Why do I like Chopin's music so much? First of course because for me the piano is the instrument I prefer above all in classical music and the things he did with the piano are often genious. I think another reason could be that I love singing (not opera though since I don’t care for drama, but that’s another thing). When played well his music has this singing quality to it. I often find myself singing the pieces. I also prefer slower music in minor keys, I don’t find it sad at all, more like uplifting. I also feel that even if Chopin’s music appeals to so many, it is not composed to please the masses but rather represents the composer’s inner world. And his inner world just happens to appeal to me.

Second would be Scarlatti (I'm listening to his flute sonata right now)
I don't think music needs to be long and complex in structure, many of his sonatas are just wonderful pieces of music that I enjoy a lot.

I think if I was stranded on a desert island and only had with me the complete works of these two composers I could live happily ever after

Then a long list of composers that have stuff I like a lot and stuff I don’t care that much. Brahms, Mendehlsson, Hummel, Glinka and many romantic era composers from the Eastern Europe. And since I am finding new interesting composers all the time (partly thanks to this forum) the list keeps getting longer and longer. Sometimes I feel like listening to more atonal music, so I think I’ll have to get to know some of the 2000th century composers better. Maybe I’ll find new favorites there…

There must be something wrong with me because I just can’t like Beethoven or Mozart. I have tried, I downloaded all the Beethoven piano sonatas and concertos to my ipod and tried really hard to listen to them but after a while I just removed them because I can get no enjoyment from them. I simply get irritated If I try too much. To me it’s just boring and tiresome. Yet I know they were genious and their compositions are of the highest quality. I guess for me music just is not about that. I’m overly rational in every other area of life, but in music I am able to just enjoy it without too much rational thought.

Bach I liked a lot as a kid, but lately I don’t seem to care that much. I must start playing him, then I will probably get it back.

[refugepiano]

I have so many works and composers that I still need to hear, so my list is undefined:

1.- Rachmaninoff, but this is on a much closer level. First of it's Prelude in C# minor was the first piano piece I took very seriously, the piece that made me want to be a professional pianist and more importantly a piece that got me off from my 3 year long depression. when I played it came from my heart and soul. That's why he's so important to me.

2.- Chopin. We all know why, so I guess I don't have the need to explain.

3.- Debussy. His music just has some soul to it that in my opinion no other composer has.

4.- Shostakovich. I'm not even sure why.

Now, I still have to listen to Liszt and Prokofiev (damn it for being poor), so this list is only temporary.

[lorditachijr]

It's so hard to choose one! I love so many composers, but here is my attempt at a Top 5 List (in no particular order):

Liszt: The reason I love list is not for the flashy, show-off stuff he's famous for. He was truly a master in harmonies and wrote some really beautiful themes. I think my favorite Liszt piece (and one of my favorite pieces written for the piano) would be that utterly ingenious Sonata. The runner up would be the Sposalizio from the 2nd Year of Pilgrimage. I am also a fan of the Transcendental Etudes, which really revolutionized piano technique.

Chopin: Chopin's music is undeniably some of the most gorgeous work ever written for the piano. My favorite Chopin piece is either the 2nd Sonata or the 1st Ballade.

Beethoven: Middle-period Beethoven music has always just had an effect on me. The Appassionata is my favorite Beethoven Sonata, and I am so lucky to finally be working on it now. The Waldstein has also always caught my ear. No matter what, though, my favorite Beethoven work is the String Quartet Op. 59, No. 1. At a music camp I attended this summer, a group played it, and I was simply moved. You can really feel the passion and effort Beethoven put into his music.

Schubert: Schubert's music is unlike any other composer's. The adjective I have always find fit it perfectly was "pure." The emotions in his music or much more soft-spoken than in the likes of the other composers on my list. His impromptus have been some of my favorite music to play, and I hope soon to play one of the sonatas (maybe D.959).

Rachmaninoff: Gorgeous melodies and harmonies combined with great virtuosity make up Rach's music. The preludes and etudes are magnificent, but his 2nd Sonata is (in my opinion) the best piece of music ever written for piano. I'm not entirely sure how to describe my feelings when I
listen to it. It's just magical.

If I was absolutely forced to choose one of these geniuses, it's going to be Liszt. He wrote the greatest amount of music that I love out of any of these composers.

[emma84]

My favorite is Rachmaninov, his music is so powerful and it makes me stronger.

[cjcarrington97]

Thank you new posters!

It's so hard to choose one! I love so many composers, but here is my attempt at a Top 5 List (in no particular order):

Liszt: The reason I love list is not for the flashy, show-off stuff he's famous for. He was truly a master in harmonies and wrote some really beautiful themes. I think my favorite Liszt piece (and one of my favorite pieces written for the piano) would be that utterly ingenious Sonata. The runner up would be the Sposalizio from the 2nd Year of Pilgrimage. I am also a fan of the Transcendental Etudes, which really revolutionized piano technique.

Chopin: Chopin's music is undeniably some of the most gorgeous work ever written for the piano. My favorite Chopin piece is either the 2nd Sonata or the 1st Ballade.

Beethoven: Middle-period Beethoven music has always just had an effect on me. The Appassionata is my favorite Beethoven Sonata, and I am so lucky to finally be working on it now. The Waldstein has also always caught my ear. No matter what, though, my favorite Beethoven work is the String Quartet Op. 59, No. 1. At a music camp I attended this summer, a group played it, and I was simply moved. You can really feel the passion and effort Beethoven put into his music.

Schubert: Schubert's music is unlike any other composer's. The adjective I have always find fit it perfectly was "pure." The emotions in his music or much more soft-spoken than in the likes of the other composers on my list. His impromptus have been some of my favorite music to play, and I hope soon to play one of the sonatas (maybe D.959).

Rachmaninoff: Gorgeous melodies and harmonies combined with great virtuosity make up Rach's music. The preludes and etudes are magnificent, but his 2nd Sonata is (in my opinion) the best piece of music ever written for piano. I'm not entirely sure how to describe my feelings when I
listen to it. It's just magical.

If I was absolutely forced to choose one of these geniuses, it's going to be Liszt. He wrote the greatest amount of music that I love out of any of these composers.

I must say, I enjoy reading everyone's posts, but when I found someone who at least had Beethoven in their top 5, I simply smiled. And good for you to be learning the mighty Appassionata! I'm still way back on Op.49 No.1 >.<
And Liszt's sonata is truly amazing. Strangely I was listening to it at like, 5:30 in the morning yesterday!
I am also liking more Schubert now as well, I'm trying to learn the Op.90 No.3 Impromptu. It is actually amazing!

1.- Rachmaninoff, but this is on a much closer level. First of it's Prelude in C# minor was the first piano piece I took very seriously, the piece that made me want to be a professional pianist and more importantly a piece that got me off from my 3 year long depression. when I played it came from my heart and soul. That's why he's so important to me.

^^ And refugepiano, I'm very glad to hear it

[sordel]

4.- Shostakovich. I'm not even sure why.

Shostakovich would be my favourite composer overall, by some distance. For symphonies, the only composer who would come close in my affections would be Mahler, but set aside Shostakovich's symphonies and you still have one of the greatest cycles of string quartets. Set aside the string quartets and you still have some superb concerti, including one of the best 'cello concerti in the repertoire, two fine violin concerti and one of my favourite piano concerti (the second).

Set aside his orchestral works and there are still the piano works which, though few in number, are very good indeed. Even if you strip Shostakovich of all those works, he still has some considerable vocal works, such as Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District and the song cycles.

[rv]

Alexander Scriabin

As much as I love most of the other composers mentioned above, Scriabin is my personal favorite.
I feel as if he put his entire soul into everything he composed and never let musical rules, traditions and boundaries hold him back.
The mystery, melancholy, darkness, energy, serenity, the moments of profound beauty, the complex harmonies and rhythms. Nothing showy. Everything has depth and meaning.
The variety and development of his music is amazing. Not only has he composed some of the finest 'late romantic' solo piano music (the early etudes, preludes, sonatas etc.), gradually he developed a unique style that was something new altogether.
My latest obsession is Prometheus. I think with a piece like this, he was so deep into his own musical world, reaching higher and higher to a place where nobody could follow him.
The more I listen to it, the more I realize what a genius he was. This piece... it's like the creation of the universe itself. And at the very end he says: Let there be light!
(IMO the performance should be tight and not too slow, my favorite performance is from Philadelphia Orchestra/Ricardo Mutti).
So much 'freedom' in harmony, rhythm and structure, but still it makes sense. It's still emotional and beautiful music, not too abstract or downright ugly dissonant.
I couldn't care less for the more abstract classical music that came later in the 20th century (stuff like Stockhausen). Scriabin is the pinnacle and combines the best of 'both worlds' (romantic vs 'modern').
It's sad that he didn't live longer. With his compositions and ideas becoming ever more grand, epic, crazy and wild. The Mysterium. If someone's composition could have really ended the world, it was Scriabin's.

[williampiano]

It is very hard to find one composer that I like more than all the others, mainly because my favorite composer changes all the time. So, because I can't really decide on one, I'll give you my top five favorites that I have been listening to lately.

Khachaturian. I like Khachaturian's music a lot because it has a nice dissonant sound to it, but it is not too extremely dissonant like some contemporary music. His music also strongly influences mine since a lot of the compositions I write sound similar to his.

Prokofiev. His music doesn't necessarily sound like Khachaturian's, but I like it for the same reasons. It is dissonant but not too dissonant and influences my compositional style a lot. I have also played a lot of Prokofiev and it has helped me a lot with my technique.

Milhaud. I haven't heard a whole lot of music by him yet, but what I have listened to so far, I enjoy a lot. One of the sets of pieces I like that he wrote are the Saudades do Brasil. I have listened to them and played through most of them, and I like them because they combine two very diverse styles of music. They have the rhythm of tango in them, but the dissonance of contemporary music which really sounds great. He is also a very prolific composer, so there is a lot that you can listen to by him.

Faure. I would say he has some of the best piano nocturnes, next to the chopin nocturnes. I learned the Nocturne op. 33 no. 2 by him, and it has such a wonderful impressionistic style to it. It contains a lot of very interesting and unique passages that make it the masterpiece that it is. The Barcarolles by him are also really beautiful. Like the Nocturnes, they are very impressionistic and have a very unique sound to them. He also wrote a lot of beautiful ensemble music which is truly wonderful to listen to.

Franck. I just began listening to music by him the past few days and I really enjoy it. One of my favorite pieces by him is the third movement of his Piano Quintet in f minor. It was one of the most beautiful ensembles from the Romantic era I had ever listened to. He also wrote a violin sonata, which is quite beautiful and very well written. Overall, I think his music is underrated now, and was during his time. A lot of musicians despised his music during his life time, therefore he did not write a whole lot. I also don't see his music performed very much today.

[richterfan1]

Beethoven - do i need to say why^^...
Chopin - marvelous works for the piano

[point of grace]

rachmaninoff, i love the treatment of the melodies, his special rythms, the piano and orquestra works.