Most underrated composer of 20th Century?

Hello everyone, I have had to be away from this board for a few days. Glad to see all the posts here! First, I agree with Brownsfan on Britten, though I don't think he is underrated by musicians, anyway.

John Adams - he is most certainly a minimalist composer, and I would agree with Frogman that he is more talented than most. He is certainly more "accessible" than most.

I definitely agree with all of Frogman's nominations, by the way.

And last, I cannot help but comment that Stravinsky has to be considered one of the ten greatest composers ever. He and Bartok both are in there based on sheer compositional craft alone. Let me make another visual art analogy - Stravinsky is the Picasso of music - he could do anything in any style. He is perhaps the only composer other than Mozart who was successful in all genres, too.

I once heard an English Critic refer to Stravinsky as the Jane Austen of music,
so skilled at his craft he has to be in the Canon, but really
doesn't have much to say.

His words , not mine.

Larryi and Frogman, your posts above prompted me to dust of some Langaard CDs that haven't gotten much playing time. I have to say I do like his string quartets, at least the ones I've heard.

"so skilled at his craft he has to be in the Canon, but really doesn't have much to say."

Right on Target! Sort of like a lot of modern day 'Jazz' players / composers.

And to think, some folks say he is "right up there with Mozart"!!!! Makes a body wonder.

Cheers

Speaking of jazz, Rok and Frogman, why have there suddenly been no new posts on that thread?

As for the English critic's comment, that to me doesn't even deserve a response, really. The very idea that Stravinsky "really doesn't have much to say" is of course sheer nonsense, both intellectually and musically. I would say it belongs in Nicholas Slonimsky's famous book of musical invective, except it's not really invective, just sheer ignorance. It certainly should have revoked his credentials to be a serious music critic, that's for sure.