Favorite 20th Century composers

[some guy]

I thought I was indulging in a spot of sarcasm, by invitation, I would add. (That is, calling Mahler a 20th century composer is just asking for trouble. So I obliged!)

I suppose that some bits of my first post might possibly be interpreted as condescending--but surely only if the recipient were feeling extra sensitive. I didn't intend to condescend (I didn't intend to rhyme just now, either--how embarrassing!), and I'm sorry you see all this light-hearted banter as rudeness. I can't help that, I hope you understand. No amount of me rereading my post will make your perceptions change. Only you can do that.

And I hope you will, too, as I really would like to know what you think of other Pettersson works besides the ones I already have. I suppose I'll get all of them, eventually. That's just the kind of listener I am. But if you've got favorites already, that will help guide my next purchases.

[amigomatt]

Originally Posted by some guy

I thought I was indulging in a spot of sarcasm, by invitation, I would add. (That is, calling Mahler a 20th century composer is just asking for trouble. So I obliged!)

I suppose that some bits of my first post might possibly be interpreted as condescending--but surely only if the recipient were feeling extra sensitive. I didn't intend to condescend (I didn't intend to rhyme just now, either--how embarrassing!), and I'm sorry you see all this light-hearted banter as rudeness. I can't help that, I hope you understand. No amount of me rereading my post will make your perceptions change. Only you can do that.

And I hope you will, too, as I really would like to know what you think of other Pettersson works besides the ones I already have. I suppose I'll get all of them, eventually. That's just the kind of listener I am. But if you've got favorites already, that will help guide my next purchases.

Thank you for your reply. I guess my extra sensitivity is partly due to yours being a reply to one of my first posts on this forum (I only joined yesterday and in fact, this is the first music forum I have joined), so I hope you understand that. No real offence taken then...

Regarding Pettersson, I do find him difficult listening, but with the right mood for my mind to be taken somewhere by his music, I've found the rewards in his music to be many. He seems emotionally very honest to me (brutally honest sometimes!). The 7th is the first of his symphonies that I became familiar with. I found the 3rd or 4th (not sure off the top of my head, but the one with the Larghetto movement in it) to be particularly beautiful and moving. Both can be found on the same CD with Alun Francis conducting the Saarbrucken Radio Symphony Orchestra.

If you're feeling courageous, then you could get your hard-hat on and try the 13th symphony. It is pretty much a constant barrage of sound in one movement with a surprise at the end. I don't think I've heard music of such visceral power from any other composer. There is a very commendable recording available played by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

I've just discovered Christopher Rouse too recently (composer-in-residence with the very fine Baltimore Symphony). His 1st Symphony is scary! I think he won some prestigious prize with his trombone concerto and is certainly a 20th century composer to investigate who really has something to say..

I really like Howard Hanson too, especially the symphonies. They are very accessible and listenable and are beautifully played by the Seattle Symphony under Gerard Schwarz.

Another gem is Bernard Herrmann's (yes the film composer) 1st symphony. I have the Phoenix Symphony playing that (another wonderful seldom heard American orchestra).

Anyway, I hope that's whetted your appetite, unless of course you already know this music and I think I shall leave it there before my post turns into favourite 20th Century pieces, rather than 20th Century composers.

[some guy]

No problemo. I almost stopped attending another forum 'cause the members were too brutal. Now I think that some of those are delightful (and rest of them simply silly)--which I wouldn't have found out had I not stayed around.

Thanks for the info about the Pettersson. 13 sounds like good, clean fun. Anyway, I'll add that one, and 3 & 4, first then.

And yes, I know all the other folks--one of them I hate with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns, so least said soonest mended! But I've not thought about Mr. Rouse for many years. I've been busy delving into the electroacoustic world, and the noise artists. But I rather liked Rouse's music back in the day. Sounds like it's time to check back in with him. (I don't stop listening to Berlioz just because I like Borbetomagus.)

[reith]

Just trying to find some Tristram Cary who's had a long career thus far. Nothing on my travels but I noticed that a Tall Poppies CD (Australia) issued a double CD. (For those who haven't heard of this guy, I think he's the man behind the Dr Who theme and a few sound tracks including Quatermass.)

[fiziwig]

This first four are probably more composer who lived in the twentieth century as opposed to "twentieth century composers", but personally, I have trouble wrapping my head around some twentieth century music. Too much of it, while interesting, just doesn't float my own personal boat. (especially those pieces that strike me as impeccably structured noise rather than music. I should follow Carl Nielson's lead and compose a parody of the kind of thing I'm talking about.) First and foremost I resonate with a good melody. Lacking that, a piece doesn't seem to touch me, emotionally.

Gabriel Faure,
Francis Poulenc, (esp his organ concerto)
Carl, Nielsen,
Camille Saint-Saens, (esp the piano concertos)
Leonard Bernstein (esp West Side Story)
John Williams (esp Star Wars, Harry Potter)
Paul Schoenfield! I love his "Cafe Music"
Me. (I could listen to MY music for hours on end )

--gary

[some guy]

Gary,

Don't be so hard on yourself. If you can enjoy Poulenc and Nielsen now (both of them 20th century composers), you'll be able to enjoy other music that might seem forbidding to you now. Give yourself some time.

Soon you'll be reveling in the sonic splendors of Lachenmann and Boulez. And Partch and Cage. Who knows, you might end up with an insatiable taste for Merzbow and Incapacitants. It's happened before, I know.

Plus, there's probably lots of stuff right now that you could enjoy, Kodaly, Stravinsky, Bartok, Prokofiev, Shostakovich. (My uncle once remarked that that famous ballet of Stravinsky's that is known for its driving rhythms and noisy dissonances is full of melody from start to finish. It's true.)

--some guy

[fiziwig]

Originally Posted by some guy

Gary,

... Give yourself some time.
...
Plus, there's probably lots of stuff right now that you could enjoy, Kodaly, Stravinsky, Bartok, Prokofiev, Shostakovich.
...
--some guy

I grew up surrounded by the classics, and have loved them all my life. But back in the 40's I remember sitting in the livingroom while my mom played Rachmaninoff on scratchy old 78 RPM records. She thought he was "the cat's meow". I thought it was dreadful. Still do. I'll take Mozart, Beethoven, or even Metallica or NIN over Rocky any day. Go figure.

Yes, I do love Stravinsky, Bartok, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, etc. Cage? Maybe it's just that I have yet to find THE definitive recording of 4'33". And I don't really care for care for care for care for care for care for Phillip Glass.

--gary

[some guy]

Haha! You know, after I sent that, I thought, but he probably already knows those people and likes them.

As for Mr. Rachmaninoff, I must say, I do like his stuff. He was my first "favorite composer" back when I was eight or nine. I can't say I'd spend much time arguing his merits, though. I like him, but who really cares? Even I don't care!!

I grew up surrounded by t.v. music. Blah. I had to go out and pull the classical stuff in around me. I must say, for all their faults, my parents did foot the bill for all that "long-haired crap" that I insisted on liking. I guess they thought that that was better than me going off on Elvis Presley or those crazy Beatles guys...

[salv]

so many! Mahler wrote fantastic symphonies at the beginning of the 20th century. Hindemith, Schoenberg, Bartok for sure, Cage, The Planets by Gustav Holst..
... as for film music, john williams, philip glass.

[amigomatt]

Originally Posted by fiziwig

And I don't really care for care for care for care for care for care for Phillip Glass.

--gary

I don't really either, but you might wanna try the symphonies or Violin Concerto if you already haven't. I like them a lot.

Matt.