Top 10 Composers (pointless list time!)

[virtuoso80]

Hey, I just posted this in a thread on another site about the 'top 10 greatest composers of all time'. Yes, we know such lists are silly, but some of us find it a fun structure to create argument and discussion.

So, here was mine, which I put in chronological order:

1. Monterverdi
2. J.S. Bach
3. Mozart
4. Beethoven
5. Schubert
6. Verdi
7. Wagner
8. Mahler
9. Schoenberg
10. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Bartok - Couldn't decide, so 4 way tie for now, time will tell.

Almost made the list: Guillaume de Machaut, Henry Purcell, Handel, Haydn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Mussorgsky, Richard Strauss, Jean Sibelius, Ives, Scriabin, Berg

Overrated, and/or had no qualms leaving them off: Vivaldi, Rossini, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Puccini, Debussy, Copland

[scherzo123]

I can't make this kind of list. Each composer has their own unique qualities that are important. 

[virtuoso80]

I can't make this kind of list. Each composer has their own unique qualities that are important. 

Understood

[rachmaninoff_forever]

1.  Rachmaninoff
2.  Scriabin
3.  Carl Vine
4.  Scriabimaninoff
5.  Vinabin
6.  Rachvininoff
7.  Carl Scriabimaninoff
8.  Sergei vinabin
9.  Alexander Rachvininoff
10. Chopin

[davidjosepha]

I can't make this kind of list. Each composer has their own unique qualities that are important. 

So you're saying that you have no musical preferences? Yes, two composers might have qualities that are important, but some qualities can be considered more important than others, and in terms of personal preference, while it might be difficult to choose your favorite 10 and order them, I think you could narrow it down a bit. Are you saying J.S. Bach, who influenced countless composers, is no more important than any of his sons? Why, then, is J.S. extremely famous while his offspring's music is only known by some? Are you saying you would just as soon play Hanon as Chopin? Based on the amount of Chopin you've played, I would assume he would rank higher than Hanon on your list. "All composers are equal, just different" is a weak answer used when one is unwilling or incapable of being decisive.

Now, let's see if I can come up with 10. This will be a combination of how "objectively important" a composer is as well as my own taste.

1. J.S. Bach - Really set up a lot of things in the modern era of music. Also heavily influenced many of my favorite composers.

2. Beethoven - Not a big fan of his music, but he ushered in the Romantic era with his later piano sonatas.

3. Chopin - I'm a reluctant fan of his music, but also hugely important.

So that covers what are, in my opinion, the obvious 3 most important composers. As I've often heard said, the Well-tempered Clavier is the Old Testament, the Beethoven sonatas are the New Testament, and Chopin's Etudes are Revelation.

Now, here are some places I am less sure of.

4. Wagner - the Tristan chord is, by many, considered the start of modernism and the turn to atonality (although the chord itself is not all that unusual). I also like what I've heard of Wagner's opera.

5. Liszt - he established many of the modern standards for piano performance (although I've heard it said that Clara Schumann also helped with many of these) and was also a superb composer. I'm not sure about this part, but I've also heard Liszt's sonata's "single movement" form (although arguably 4 movements) was revolutionary.

6. Rachmaninoff - just for being an absolute genius.

7. Scriabin - cause what the hell was going on in that guy's mind? Like, really.

8. Sorabji - I'm not really familiar with many of his works, but again, what the hell, man? There's that point where you become so crazy people aren't sure if you're a genius or just crazy. He's well beyond that point, and I have no idea.

That's all I got. Eight. Many other composers I like, but don't really have a justification for putting them on here.

[davidjosepha]

1.  Rachmaninoff
2.  Scriabin
3.  Carl Vine
4.  Scriabimaninoff
5.  Vinabin
6.  Rachvininoff
7.  Carl Scriabimaninoff
8.  Sergei vinabin
9.  Alexander Rachvininoff
10. Chopin

A little disappointed Bachmaninoff didn't appear on this list anywhere.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

A little disappointed Bachmaninoff didn't appear on this list anywhere.

Bach was a composer?

I thought he was some sort of formality that every pianist had to play.

[fftransform]

A little disappointed Bachmaninoff didn't appear on this list anywhere.

What do you expect from somebody who would put Carl Vine on his list?

[davidjosepha]

What do you expect from somebody who would put Carl Vine on his list?

Nothing more, nothing less.

What are a couple you'd put on your list?

[j_menz]

Hey, I just posted this in a thread on another site about the 'top 10 greatest composers of all time'. Yes, we know such lists are silly, but some of us find it a fun structure to create argument and discussion.

So, here was mine, which I put in chronological order:

1. Monterverdi
2. J.S. Bach
3. Mozart
4. Beethoven
5. Schubert
6. Verdi
7. Wagner
8. Mahler
9. Schoenberg
10. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Bartok - Couldn't decide, so 4 way tie for now, time will tell.

In the spirit of discussion: Schubert, Verdi, Monteverdi, Mahler, Shostakovich Prokofiev and Bartok may all be interesting composers but are in many ways dead ends musically, or decidedly niche.  If by great we mean of lasting significance and influence, my list would be:

1. JS Bach
2. JCWA Mozart
3. L v Beethoven
4. R Wagner
5. I Stravinsky
6. F Liszt
7. PI Tschaikovsky
8. FJ Haydn
9. H Berlioz
10.A Schoenberg

There are probably some earlier composers who are deserving of a place, but I would argue that their influence is now largely mediated through the influence thay had on others rather than a continuing direct influence.  Inclusion on the list does not indicate that I like them (or that I don't).

EDIT: There are also probably later composers who will come to warrant inclusion, but I think it's too early yet to judge.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

What do you expect from somebody who would put Carl Vine on his list?

Hey he's a good composer!

Just because he hasn't been dead for hundreds of years, doesn't mean that all his music is atonal and that he's a bad composer.

[davidjosepha]

Hey he's a good composer!

Just because he hasn't been dead for hundreds of years, doesn't mean that all his music is atonal and that he's a bad composer.

I like his music, but I hardly think he could be considered important, at the moment anyway. Do you have any justification for his importance or do you just like him?

[49410enrique]

if i list 10 of my number 1's, is it still a top 10 list?

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Do you have any justification for his importance or do you just like him?

Well the title didn't say anything about top 10 important composers; it just said top 10 composers.

Since making a list of the most important composers would make me VERY mad, I just decided to list my 10 favorite.  

[stoudemirestat]

My current top 10 (favourites, not 'greatest').

1. Liszt.
2. Beethoven.
3. Berlioz.
4. Rachmaninoff.
5. Schubert.
6. Chopin.
7. Schumann.
8. Tchaikovsky.
9. Debussy.
10. Prokofiev.

[49410enrique]

Bach was a composer?

[j_menz]

making a list of the most important composers would make me VERY mad

And why might that be?  

[j_menz]

if i list 10 of my number 1's, is it still a top 10 list?

Only if you list your top ten number ones.

[49410enrique]

Only if you list your top ten number ones.

what about my top 10 number 2's?
( I can't keep a straight face typing that, it sounds like I'm doing a power rank of my best turds of all time)

lol OT, angry turds

[fftransform]

What are a couple you'd put on your list?

Depends on whether this is a "most important" or "favorite" type of deal.  My understanding is that it's a "most important" list.  I couldn't do 10, but if we're going from Baroque to early 20th Century, how about: Monteverdi, Telemann, Gluck, CPE Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Berlioz, Liszt, Ravel, Gershwin, Schoenberg and Stravinsky.


As for favorite: Xenakis, Bussotti, Adamek, Ginastera, Barrett, Dumitrescu, Andre, Casale, Flammer and Nicolaou.

[j_menz]

Monteverdi, Telemann, Gluck, CPE Bach, Haydn, Schubert, Berlioz, Liszt, Ravel, Gershwin, Schoenberg and Stravinsky.

Some interesting omissions.

And Telemann and Gluck?? Really?   

CPE Bach is surely just being provocative. 

[chopin2015]

I will list them in order of birth year;

Scarlatti; Beethoven; Paganini; Schubert; Chopin; Liszt(he belongs in the pianist list instead); Tchaikovsky; Scriabin; Ravel; Prokofiev;

[stoudemirestat]

Liszt(he belongs in the pianist list instead)

Wondering what you mean by this.

[chopin2015]

I like him as a composer, but I get more satisfaction of thinking of him as an attractive pianist.

[stoudemirestat]

I like him as a composer, but I get more satisfaction of thinking of him as an attractive pianist.

Fair enough! 

[stiefel]

Okay here are my top ten favorites in no order.  I can't really rank by importance because I don't know enough music history.

1. Mozart
2. Beethoven
4. Brahms
5. Chopin

Should I include Debussy and js bach?
I can't decide after that.

wow it stresses me out choosing favorites.

[j_menz]

I like him as a composer, but I get more satisfaction of thinking of him as an attractive pianist.

[synthifou]

Some interesting omissions.

And Telemann and Gluck?? Really?  

CPE Bach is surely just being provocative.  

Considering how influential they were to their contemporaries and successors, those choices aren’t terribly far-fetched.  CPE Bach was an especially prominent model for the development of the classical style;  Haydn and Mozart’s training were highly derivative from his works.  The same goes for Telemann with the Baroque (Bach and Handel), and Gluck for Opera.  Also, Berlioz was a huge admirer of Gluck.  They were all immensely popular in Europe during their lifetime.

List of composers I listen to most frequently, partly due to their extensive availability:  Scarlatti, Haydn, Mahler, Schoenberg (mostly the pre-atonal works, actually), Prokofiev, Stockhausen, Babbitt, Boulez, and John Adams.  However, most of my favorite works are by composers not mentioned on that list.

[camille101]

1. Prokofiev
2. Ravel
3. Rachmaninoff
4. Mozart
5. Debussy
6. Beethoven
7. Chopin
8. Liszt
9. Tchaikovsky
10. Bach

[beebert]

Calling Monteverdi and Schubert "dead ends" musically is just ridiculous..

Anyway:
1. Ludwig van Beethoven
2. JS Bach
3. Franz Schubert
4. WA Mozart
5. Johannes Brahms
6. Shoenberg, Webern, Berg
7. Frederic Chopin
8. Robert Schumann
9. Alexander Scriabin
10. Claude Debussy

In the spirit of discussion: Schubert, Verdi, Monteverdi, Mahler, Shostakovich Prokofiev and Bartok may all be interesting composers but are in many ways dead ends musically, or decidedly niche.  If by great we mean of lasting significance and influence, my list would be:

1. JS Bach
2. JCWA Mozart
3. L v Beethoven
4. R Wagner
5. I Stravinsky
6. F Liszt
7. PI Tschaikovsky
8. FJ Haydn
9. H Berlioz
10.A Schoenberg

There are probably some earlier composers who are deserving of a place, but I would argue that their influence is now largely mediated through the influence thay had on others rather than a continuing direct influence.  Inclusion on the list does not indicate that I like them (or that I don't).

EDIT: There are also probably later composers who will come to warrant inclusion, but I think it's too early yet to judge.

[outin]

I can only make a list of composers that I personally find great (in a very subjective sense), because I don’t really know that much about composers that I don’t like. It would not be very interesting if I just listed those that are generally considered the greatest (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Wagner etc.). Besides the title says POINTLESS list 

But the task made me wonder: Which one is greater composer for me, one that has almost only composed pieces that I like (Franck) or the one that has composed both pieces that I like and those that I don’t (Chopin). Also if the composer has one piece that I like above all, is he better than one that has 10 pieces that I like a lot? Or if the composer has composed about 200 pieces that I like a lot (Scarlatti)?

I also know practically nothing about music before baroque, so those could not get into my list.

Since I have nothing better to do (stuck at work) I managed to compose a list:

1-3: Chopin, Franck, Scarlatti

4. Scriabin

… (here’s a bit of a gap and the rest are subject to frequent chance)

5.-6. Hummel, Brahms (to keep some Germans on the list)

7. Berlioz (so that it's not ALL keyboard stuff)

9. Telemann, Purcell, Shostakovich (to balance my baroque diet a bit and include something that is from the last century)

10. This spot is still vacant, just too many to decide… Mostly Russian romantics. But I have also warmed up slightly towards impressionism lately...

[redbaron]

In chronological order

1. J.S. Bach
2. Brahms
3. Chopin
4. Liszt
5. Scriabin
6. Debussy
7. Ravel
8. Rachmaninov
9. Bartok
10. Sibelius


Also worthy of mention:

1. Beethoven
2. Mendelssohn
3. Mussorgsky
4. Tchaikovsky
5. Stravinsky
6. Philip Glass
7. Michael Nyman

[scherzo123]

So you're saying that you have no musical preferences? Yes, two composers might have qualities that are important, but some qualities can be considered more important than others, and in terms of personal preference, while it might be difficult to choose your favorite 10 and order them, I think you could narrow it down a bit. Are you saying J.S. Bach, who influenced countless composers, is no more important than any of his sons? Why, then, is J.S. extremely famous while his offspring's music is only known by some? Are you saying you would just as soon play Hanon as Chopin? Based on the amount of Chopin you've played, I would assume he would rank higher than Hanon on your list. "All composers are equal, just different" is a weak answer used when one is unwilling or incapable of being decisive.

Actually, I just got lazy  . I thought this thread was about listing the top 10 GREATEST composers, not the most FAVORITE. Perhaps I was wrong, after I saw some of the other posts, so you can quit reprimanding me . But if I had to list them, I'd have a lot of ties...my ranking of greatest/favorite/etc. composers:

1.Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Liszt
2.Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini, Schubert
3.Wagner, Verdi
4.Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bartok, Shostakovich
5.Schumann, Mendelssohn
6.Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Balakirev
7.Stravinsky
8.Janacek, Dvorak, Smetana
9.Schoenberg, Gershwin
10.Anybody else 

In my opinion, my list is pretty bad.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Actually, I just got lazy  . I thought this thread was about listing the top 10 GREATEST composers, not the most FAVORITE. Perhaps I was wrong, after I saw some of the other posts, so you can quit reprimanding me . But if I had to list them, I'd have a lot of ties...my ranking of greatest/favorite/etc. composers:

1.Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Liszt
2.Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini, Schubert
3.Wagner, Verdi
4.Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bartok, Shostakovich
5.Schumann, Mendelssohn
6.Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Balakirev
7.Stravinsky
8.Janacek, Dvorak, Smetana
9.Schoenberg, Gershwin
10.Anybody else 

In my opinion, my list is pretty bad.

+1

[49410enrique]

Actually, I just got lazy  . I thought this thread was about listing the top 10 GREATEST composers, not the most FAVORITE. Perhaps I was wrong, after I saw some of the other posts, so you can quit reprimanding me . But if I had to list them, I'd have a lot of ties...my ranking of greatest/favorite/etc. composers:

1.Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Liszt
2.Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Paganini, Schubert
3.Wagner, Verdi
4.Debussy, Ravel, Prokofiev, Bartok, Shostakovich
5.Schumann, Mendelssohn
6.Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Balakirev
7.Stravinsky
8.Janacek, Dvorak, Smetana
9.Schoenberg, Gershwin
10.Anybody else 

In my opinion, my list is pretty bad.

you think they're worth 1/28th vs 1/10th? that's not a very nice thing to say about them.

[chopin2015]

[fftransform]

Some interesting omissions.

And Telemann and Gluck?? Really?   

CPE Bach is surely just being provocative. 

Take a music history class.  No Haydn, thus no Mozart, thus no Beethoven and Schubert, if no CPE Bach.  No Handel or Bach without Telemann.  No opera without Gluck.

[j_menz]

Take a music history class.  No Haydn, thus no Mozart, thus no Beethoven and Schubert, if no CPE Bach.  No Handel or Bach without Telemann.  No opera without Gluck.

The influence between Haydn and CPE Bach could, I think, be better argues ad going the other way, as could the influence between JS Bach and Teleman.

Gluick's contribution to Opera is somewhat exaggerated. What he did was much discussed by many  as being needed at the time, and after all, his contribution amounts to little more than doing away with recitativo secco.

[starstruck5]

   mY POINLESS LIST IS:

In order of brilliance -

Chopin -Beethoven -Mozart -Handel -Prokofiev -Rachmaninoff -Domenico Scarlatti -Haydn -Schubert -Liszt

I hate the orchestra -so I am not going to choose composers who didn't write for keyboard -I considered JS Bach -but most of his music has too much counterpoint -and this isn't meant to be a trolling remark -it's a pointless subjective list after all -Couperin almost made the list -

[outin]

I hate the orchestra -so I am not going to choose composers who didn't write for keyboard -

You too? I thought I'm the only one...

Although I have developed a liking for piano concertos, as long as the orchestra is kept where it belongs to

[scherzo123]

you think they're worth 1/28th vs 1/10th? that's not a very nice thing to say about them.

I said it was bad...my list was about 70% favorites and 30% importance (in composers).

[thalbergmad]

Barrett, Dench, Dillon, Finnissy, Xenakis, Feldman, Barlow, Hespos, Holliger & Erber.

Thal

[synthifou]

Barrett, Dench, Dillon, Finnissy, Xenakis, Feldman, Barlow, Hespos, Holliger & Erber.

Thal

Opposite day, fun! 

My Ten:  Bortkiewicz, Clementi, Weber, Medtner, Mendelssohn, Litolff, Brull, Moscheles, Dohnanyi, and Thalberg.

[j_menz]

Dench

Is there no end to the talents of Dame Judy, what between acting, running MI5 and now composing...

[beebert]

Take a music history class.  No Haydn, thus no Mozart, thus no Beethoven and Schubert, if no CPE Bach.  No Handel or Bach without Telemann.  No opera without Gluck.

With your way of reasoning, why not put Jesus Christ and God himself at the very top? I mean, without them, there would be no JS Bach..

[fftransform]

With your way of reasoning, why not put Jesus Christ and God himself at the very top? I mean, without them, there would be no JS Bach..

With your way of reasoning, I guess I should have put Zeus and Odin on my list, but I'm not interested in including fictitious characters.  I'm not sure that Jesus or God were composers, nor am I sure that they were active in the Baroque period forward.  Besides, why include Jesus when Telemann already precludes Bach's importance?  Seems a bit arbitrary.

[nocturnetr]

1-Prokofiev
2-Rachmaninoff
3-Chopin
4-Liszt
5-Bach
6-Schubert
7-Berlioz
8-Shostakovich
9-Stravinsky
10-Mozart

[j_menz]

Telemann ... precludes Bach's importance

Whatever your putting in your water, cut down.

I like Telemann, but to suggest he overshadows JS Bach is absurd.

[redbaron]

Barrett, Dench, Dillon, Finnissy, Xenakis, Feldman, Barlow, Hespos, Holliger & Erber.

Thal

Ah, Thal's obligatory list of obscure composers that nobody else has ever heard of...

[fftransform]

Whatever your putting in your water, cut down.

I like Telemann, but to suggest he overshadows JS Bach is absurd.

If you like Telemann, then you're the one who's obviously been putting something in his water.  Is it Valium?  Without Telemann, Bach would not have existed as we know him.  Bach had very, very little impact on music before Mendelssohn began popularizing him, and it wasn't until toward the last third of the Romantic Era that he was well-known.  His impact on music has been quite minimal; by the time he was well-known enough, people were writing music that has no use of Bach.  What is so hard to understand?