Favorite 20th Century composers

[Classicala]

My favorite is Prokofiev; Why: "Peter and the Wolf" was the first work I heard played by a live orchestrea (I was 11). His "Classical Symphony" was a wonderful study because everything was laid out so clearly. His music for Eisenstein's movie, "Alexandre Nevski," still gives me goosebumps when I recall it.

The most influenced 20th century I usually find is the Russians, especially Shostachovich. I was enthralled by Stravinski when I was younger. I bought every recording I could get my hands on and listened to it over and over even though I didn't understand it.

[reith]

It's so difficult since I mostly like 20th c music anyway so it's easier to say what I don't like, namely the more rigid of the second Viennese school (and their followers into total serialism like Boulez (the composer)), the Darmstadt lot excluding Cage who didn't get on too well with Stockhausen and mates, and who I can at least appreciate because of his work with Merce Cunningham.

[ttw]

Ernesto Lecuona, Rachmaninov, Dmitri Tiomkin, Elmer Bernstein, and I'm beginning to get interested in Villa-Lobos. Mostly, I'm many years out of date.

[reith]

I've tried to get interested in Villa-Lobos. The problem is there is so much so inevitably some will be boring while some, excellent. My latest attempt is his second symphony which is a right sprawler of a work in HVL's thickest scoring! I've been happy with his two film suites "Forest of the Amazon*" and "Discovery of Brazil" and some of the Choros. A difficult composer though - and damned difficult to play (or conduct, I'd guess, looking at some of his scores). I recently acquired the recording "Choros 1-7" which includes the "Introduction to the Choros" - a nice piece with a guitar solo - convinced me that he knew how to write for guitar with full orchestra.

[some guy]

Well, no posts to this thread yet in May, so I'll sneak in an intro: I'm some guy who likes music, and then I'll put some names down, to make things all nice and legal.

A new favorite of mine is Per Nørgård. He wrote six symphonies, of which five and six are very fine, five operas (I only know Nuits des Hommes--I did say he was a "new" favorite) and a bunch of other good stuff. Otherwise, Helmut Lachenmann and Wolfgang Rihm are also good for new orchestral and instrumental stuff, as is Bronius Kutavicius and Sofia Gubaidulina.

But the coolest kids, I think, are the electroacoustic folks: Dhomont, Henry, Ferreyra, Bokanowski, Marchetti, Brümmer, Normandeau, Calon, Kaufman...

I'm surprised this thread is so short; there's so much good stuff in the 20th and 21st centuries. (Of course, I'm also surprised my own list of favorites here is so short. Where are Ashley and Lucier and Cage and Webern and Varèse and Oliveros and Kubisch and Goebbels and... Well you get the idea. Too much topnotch stuff.)

[amigomatt]

MAHLER!!!! died 1911

[some guy]

Hmmm. Mahler, eh?

Why not Dvorak, too, then, who died in 1904? Or Grieg? (1907) Or Rimsky-Korsakov? (1908)

Or perhaps Camille Saint-Saens, who made it all the way to 1921?

I grant you that Mahler is possibly more modern in sensibility than any of these, but that comes out most plainly in the symphony no. 10, which..., well, you know.

OK, amigo. Give it another try!

[amigomatt]

Originally Posted by some guy

Hmmm. Mahler, eh?

Why not Dvorak, too, then, who died in 1904? Or Grieg? (1907) Or Rimsky-Korsakov? (1908)

Or perhaps Camille Saint-Saens, who made it all the way to 1921?

I grant you that Mahler is possibly more modern in sensibility than any of these, but that comes out most plainly in the symphony no. 10, which..., well, you know.

OK, amigo. Give it another try!

Give it another try? The thread is called "Favorite 20th Century composers" incase you haven't noticed. Mahler is my favourite composer that lived in the 20th Century, not Dvorak, Grieg, Saint-Saens or Rimsky-Korsakov (all of whom I'm fond of). In fact, Mahler is my favourite composer and I have listened to, studied and played his music for years.

You 'grant' me Mahler is possibly more modern in sensibility? He definitely is. Not that that's the point anyway, and you don't need to go to the 10th to find that. The outburst at the beginning of last movement of the 1st symphony clearly shakes the foundations of tonality more than any of these composers did. (again, not that that's the point of this thread).

Anyway, there was no need for you to try and be a smartass with me unless you had something to prove, (something I know you wouldn't really attempt if you actually knew me at all).

As far as true 20th Century composers go, I'm trying hard to get on a level Gustav Allan Pettersson - whose music is so gritty and honest - and I have always loved the big Russian orchestral sounds such Shostakovich, Scriabin and Prokofiev. (this is no doubt due in part to me being a brass player!)

[some guy]

Originally Posted by amigomatt

Give it another try? The thread is called "Favorite 20th Century composers" incase you haven't noticed. Mahler is my favourite composer that lived in the 20th Century

Why yes, yes I had noticed that....

I also noticed your disingenuous replacement of "20th century composer" with "composer who was still alive after 1900."

"Real point," indeed!

Now tell me, what of Pettersson have you heard? I have symphonies 5, 15, and 16. They don't seem as inventive as Nørgård's six, but they're interesting enough to bear repeated listenings. Any recommendations for which ones to pick up next?

[amigomatt]

Originally Posted by some guy

I also noticed your disingenuous replacement of "20th century composer" with "composer who was still alive after 1900."

"Real point," indeed!

I don't see why you've continued to be condescending in your reply to me. Just read through your first post to me again and be aware of your rude tone. I hope you might then begin to understand the manner of my response.

I just joined this forum to talk about music. I suppose in this case I'm just a musician who hasn't responded well to a music lover with an inflated sense of self presuming my lack of knowledge and taste. Oh well...