Who's your favourite composer? Why?

[Locky]

Everyone has some favourite composer/s they like to play or listen to the most.

Personally, I admire different composers for different works, but if it came down to one composer, I'd probably go for Debussy, because I love the chords and arpeggios he uses, and I like how he leaves a lot of the rhymthm and expression for you to interpret.

How about you? 

PS. Someone has probably posted a question like this before, but I didn't want to search through 23 pages.

[julie391]

impossible to choose for me

but for the piano, my favourite composer is alkan

his music is so unique and incomparable

[Locky]

Yeah... sorry... I meant to say composer for piano.

[brewtality]

Rachmaninoff because he composed the greatest concerti i've heard. The cadenza of the first is such moving and powerful music, i love it.

[Daniel_piano]

Edward Grieg
Because his love for nature and the dreaming northic sound speaking of fantastic lands and magical legends

Daniel

[julie391]

Rachmaninoff because he composed the greatest concerti i've heard. The cadenza of the first is such moving and powerful music, i love it.

yes i love those huge juicy chords 

[julie391]

oh, and incidentally brewtality - bortkiewicz's 1st concerto has great moments like that, in fact i think nowadays its my fave concerto of all

[brewtality]

cool. I've never heard of Bortkiewicz before, who's the pianist? is it an easy to find recording? i might check it out.

[julie391]

stephen coombs on hyperion

the romantic piano concertos series

in fact you should check out that whole series - lots of great discoveries to be heard

[DarkWind]

In case you guys didn't know: Ravel.

[glBelgedin]

Bach

[Fastzuernst]

Schumann and Scriabin
I find them suprising similar

[chozart]

Bach & Mozart
for they nearly always make feel something really special
.. ever since youth

I sense both pensivity, passion, sadness and happiness all at the same time from them

of course, there will be works by other composers that make me feel like this as well, more so than certain works by Bach & Mozart

but something about them.. so dear to me

[julie391]

Schumann and Scriabin
I find them suprising similar

  in what way?

[rachlisztchopin]

Liszt definitely. He hasn't written one piece of trash (that I have heard at least) and is very creative in his composing.  His piano concerti just amaze me so much (especially the 2nd). He is a composer to be remembered....as are most of the ones you guys have mentioned.
I am rather curious how Schumann and Scriabin are similar.

[jon]

Chopin.I know what a common choice  .His music is absolutely amazing.Like Rachlisztchopin said about Liszt the same could be said about Chopin.Every single work he composed is worth listening to.For many non musicians  or even pianists the first time you listen to a Chopin piece you will probably enjoy it.Some other pieces are amazing but will take time to enjoy and appreciate.What a shame he died at only 39,imagine all the music he could have written had he lived to the age that Liszt did.

[rachlisztchopin]

oh gosh yea it is a shame that chopin died at 39...its also a shame liszt didnt write as much music as i would had expected him to! i wish there was as much liszt music as for say....haydn? lol or mozart? haha 27 piano concertos would be good enough for me

[Fastzuernst]

Listen for some of the themes used Skriabin, especially in his earlier compositions (the preludes and Etudes in peticular). It is commonly known that Skriabin had a love for chopin but I would venture to say that Schumann also had an impact on his compositional style, which of course changed later in life with his more dissonant works.
Of course, time and time again we hear of the striking similarities between Skriabins and Chopins themes (just the fact that he wrote 24 preludes in the same manner as Chopin is enough proof enough!). But when i play the earlier works by Skriabin I hear the undeniable influence of Schumann as well! A mon avis!

Schumann and Scriabin
I find them suprising similar

  in what way?

[steinwaymodeld]

Chopin.I know what a common choice  .His music is absolutely amazing.Like Rachlisztchopin said about Liszt the same could be said about Chopin.Every single work he composed is worth listening to.For many non musicians  or even pianists the first time you listen to a Chopin piece you will probably enjoy it.Some other pieces are amazing but will take time to enjoy and appreciate.What a shame he died at only 39,imagine all the music he could have written had he lived to the age that Liszt did.

I wouldn't say 'EVERY single pieces' of Liszt is worth listening to (even I am a huge Liszt fan)
A lot of his works are in 'transistion' state, which would be transformed(or not) into better pieces.

FOr eg, Hungarian Rhapsody Cycle 1, then into 2(the commonly heard and better cycles)

[Regulus Medtner]

Beethoven and Medtner.

[julie391]

Liszt definitely. He hasn't written one piece of trash (that I have heard at least) and is very creative in his composing.  His piano concerti just amaze me so much (especially the 2nd). He is a composer to be remembered....as are most of the ones you guys have mentioned.
I am rather curious how Schumann and Scriabin are similar.

i love liszt, and evei will admit that some of his unknown music is quite crap

[julie391]

Listen for some of the themes used Skriabin, especially in his earlier compositions (the preludes and Etudes in peticular). It is commonly known that Skriabin had a love for chopin but I would venture to say that Schumann also had an impact on his compositional style, which of course changed later in life with his more dissonant works.
Of course, time and time again we hear of the striking similarities between Skriabins and Chopins themes (just the fact that he wrote 24 preludes in the same manner as Chopin is enough proof enough!). But when i play the earlier works by Skriabin I hear the undeniable influence of Schumann as well! A mon avis!

Schumann and Scriabin
I find them suprising similar

  in what way?

i dont really hear it

i hear the chopin influence though

[rachlisztchopin]

well all composers have written crap as some point

[Ludwig Van Rachabji]

Beethoven for sonatas, Rachmaninoff for concerti.

However, I have a lot of "favorite" pieces.


Rachmaninoff:

Rach 3
Rach 2


Beethoven:

Opus 111
Opus 81a
Opus 53
Symphony 9


Grieg:

Concerto
Norwegian Dances


Schumann

Concerto


Tchaicovsky:

Concerto 1
Pathetique Symphony


Saint-Saens:

Organ Symphony


Sorabji:

Opus Clavicembalisticum


Godowsky:

"Avowel"
Polonaise
Tocatta


Mozart:

Fantasy in D Minor
Requiem


There's probably much more...


- Ludwig Van Rachabji

[DarkWind]

well all composers have written crap as some point

Really? Many people agree that Ravel never wrote a single bad piece, ever. And I've personally listened to all but around 5 of his works, and can agree to this statement. Sure, they might not sound incredibly pleasant to some, but you have to admit that they are incredibly well crafted with amazing precision. He never rushed a piece. In fact, he asked his publisher to half the original amount he offered to give him a month(or was it a year) just so he wouldn't feel the need to rush a work.

[rachlisztchopin]

let me change that statement....most composers have written crap at some point lol your right about ravel though

[Daniel_piano]

Bach

it's wonderful to see finally someone that consider Bach his/her favorite
Bach music is wonderful but people usually doesn't like it
I think the fault is the fact that Bach is played too mechanically (maybe because of the  obsession in school with his pedagogical material)
There this myth that Bach should be played stricly and mathematically without emotions but those who has read someone about Bach life knows that this is not true
Bach music is full of passion, romanticism and sentiments
Now if for Beethiven these were for women, nature, memory of childhood and friends for Bach there were for God and collective spiritual conscience but there's no difference about Bach romanticism and Beethoven on except for whom those romanticism what directed to
Unfortunately few orchestral director, organists and pianists know how to play Bach well, and their interpretation is always dry, purely technically
I hope pianists teens of today will discover again the romanticism of Bach music

Daniel

[rachlisztchopin]

i like bach  and im a teenager 

[Fastzuernst]

  in what way?

i dont really hear it

i hear the chopin influence though

It is obvious that Chopin influenced Scriabin (there are books and disertations written on the subject!)  The connection between Schumann and Skriabin is  just my opinion but I definately hear similarities! I originally had planned on doing a research project on the connections between Chopin and Scriabin (focusing on the preludes). The connections are almost too obvious and I felt that the topic has been overstated (again in my opinion!) During my research I began to hear passages that reminded me of Schumann such as a rhythmic device or themes.
Anyways -  I suppose I am not giving you all a very clear example, Etude Op.42no.5 the second theme feels very <Schumann> to me, Prelude Op.11 No.20 comes to mind as well
Could it be possible that Scriabin was influenced by someone other than Chopin?! I think one has to read between the lines as even someone who isn't educated musically can hear this connection. I am already convinced of Schumann's influence but perhaps after historical and harmonic analysis I can can prove it some day.  At this point all I can do is speculate!

[dlu]

Um....well...I hate to play Beethoven...but love to listen to it...I love to play Mozart...but hate to listen it...and I love to listen to Ligeti....but it is DAMN hard...And I hate Brahm's and Schubert's solo piano music....but love their orchestral stuff. Here are some of my other favorite composers:
Schoenberg (GOD)
Berg (love his Wozzeck)
Webern (don't like the piano variations but like the other stuff)
Lutoslawski (his Cello concerto is King! and his piano concerto is goood too...prince i guess)
Stravinsky (of course!!)
(Jennifer) Higdon (her concerto for orchestra is spectacular!...still alive...and only 40 something I think)
Boulez (his Livre pour Cordes it monumental! and his piano works are second only to Ligeti...speaking in terms of the modern genre only...)
LIGETI (his only opera La Grand Macabre is superb!) and the piano works, piano concerto, and melodien are also personal favorites.
Copland (hoedown!....jk...his stuff is great fun!)
Brahms-hate the solo piano stuff, but the Double Concerto is one of my favorites
Ravel-everything except...well...nothing
Debussy-the orchestal stuff is great, only SOME of the solo piano works please me
Rachmaninoff (a sort of a guilty pleasure for me...)
.....................
DLu

[Op. 1 No. 2]

My favourite composer is Nikolai Medtner. And I'm sorry, I don't feel like explaining why. 

[julie391]

My favourite composer is Nikolai Medtner. And I'm sorry, I don't feel like explaining why. 

im sure every medtner fan knows why, i do

[Regulus Medtner]

I do too! op.1 merely said he doesn't feel like explaining it and I don't blame him. The music itself makes it quite obvious!

[BoliverAllmon]

shostakovich- I just find something so appealing in his music. I feel that I relate well to it.

No 3 consecutive symphonies can compare to Shostakovich's 8,9,and 10th.

His string quartets are without a doubt some of the best quartets written, too bad better musicians don't play them more often.

Piano music is amazing.

One thing I find neat is that he will incorporate 12 tone rows in his music, but doesn't stay serialistic. He uses the rows for effects, not necessarily the structure for the entire piece as other serialists.

boliver

[Floristan]

Brahms.  The piano concertos (especially #2), the violin concerto, the double concerto, the 4 symphonies,  all his chamber works, most of his songs, Ein Deutsches Requiem, Tragic Overture, Academic Festival Overture (Brahmsian humor), the many pieces he wrote for a capella choirs, especially women's choirs, his wonderful Hungarian Dances for four hands, the waltzes, especially for four hands, the two books of Liebeslieder Waltzer, his Op. 5 piano sonata, all his later piano pieces, each one a small, perfect gem, the Haydn variations, Handel variations, the cello sonatas, the violin sonatas, the clarinet sonatas, and oh the Alto Rhapsody and the Four Serious Songs.  Definitely Brahms!

[Locky]

Brahms-hate the solo piano stuff

Why? I don't understand. One of my favourite pieces I've learnt is Brahms (Intermezzo Op. 118, No. 2). What is it you don't like about Brahms' solo piano music?

[pianiststrongbad]

I love the Schubert Song Cycles for solo voice and piano, I also love Tchaikovsky symphonies. 

[Alde]

Bach

[Tash]

ok can't pick only one cos it depends on my mood, but the tops are prokofiev, stravinsky, bach, chopin, and bartok. the 3 20th century's i love cos i like their dissonance and sometimes bizarreness, love bartok's use of folk tunes in his pieces, and have you listened to his piano concertos? how can i not love him??!! and stravinsky's symphony of psalms just knocked my socks off, and i love prokofiev- lieutenant kije (listening to the troika right now YAY!!! it's gorgeous!), love of 3 oranges, cinderella, etc yum yum yum. bach is the bomb cos his music, major or minor always inspires me and lifts my spirits in all moods. chopin is just the best he's beautiful

and i could go on with a list of the next bunch of fave composers, but i won't, cos it'll go on forever

[brewtality]

Rachmaninoff, for his great concerti.

[kekk]

Bach

then

Beethoven, Prokofiev and Scarlatti, sometimes Chopin.

[willcowskitz]

Liszt Ferenc.
Because his music is above all human, and I love to feel.

Jean Sibelius.
Because his music is as mysterious and magical as nature itself.

[xRhapsodyx]

Rachmaninov

[bravuraoctaves]

Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Skyrabin.

What they all have in common, is their powerful ability to inspire feeling.

[adrian]

I just love Bach's compositions.  I play the harpischord and clavier ones...I especially love the two part inventions..I played No.8 for harpischord...But I played it on the piano for an Exam..

[maxy]

Really? Many people agree that Ravel never wrote a single bad piece, ever. And I've personally listened to all but around 5 of his works, and can agree to this statement. Sure, they might not sound incredibly pleasant to some, but you have to admit that they are incredibly well crafted with amazing precision. He never rushed a piece. In fact, he asked his publisher to half the original amount he offered to give him a month(or was it a year) just so he wouldn't feel the need to rush a work.

What Ravel did not like, he destroyed.  All of his pieces we know about are of extremely high quality, even some piece he did for a sightreading exam.  He may have composed "lesser" works but they do not exist anymore.

[angélica]

I really like Ernesto Nazareth It is a brazilian classsic!

[beethovenfan]

I don't have one favourite composer,

I like Bach, Beethoven, Tschaikowsky, Rachmaninoff.

Also good:

Debussy
Chopin (Nocturnes)
Schumann

[Skeptopotamus]

I dont think I could chose just one, but if I had to, I would say that Charles-Valentin Alkan is one of my favorites.  It's too bad he doesn't get played much though.

[offenbach]

I really enjoy Liszt and Rachmaninoff, however all time fav has to be
Gottschalk. IMO he is one of the most underrated and rarely played/performed
of composers, but his music is brilliant. He was admired greatly by many of the
more well known composers, but I don't feel his music was taken seriously.
His style is different, and was very unique, and considering he composed in the 1800's, he was certainly ahead of his time. Just my opinion.

O