agree with Mrtennis. attempting to compile a "best of" list for a multifaceted genre spanning several hundred years is a total exercise in futility.
Bach is indeed one of the greatest composers - certainly during the Baroque period & also in the historical context, but to say no other composer can matched his creativity is just ridiculous. creativity comes in countless forms... is Picasso more creative than da Vinci? how abt van Gogh vs. Albert Einstein?
we're all influenced by our environments & the times we live in. music - as with all arts - is a reflection of culture & society. in the context of western civilization, this has evolved from religious/ceremonial, to formalized entertainment (following the rise of bourgeois class & humanistic thought), to breaking down these formal structures & self-expression (democratization), to eventual fragmentation. the important composers either spearheaded, or significantly contributed towards these changes (otherwise none of us would even know their names).
since this post was initially started with the intention of helping those relatively new to this genre (& wanting to build a collection), my recommendation's to listen to whatever speaks to you, then assemble a collection from there. don't jump around with all these random recommendations, because you're only going to confuse yourself.
many classical newbies are accustomed to music 3 to 6 mins in length, so the longer movements can (initially) be a little daunting & difficult to concentrate thru. this is normal. your attention span will expand as you become familiar with a piece. maybe this is why some say just keep listening if you dont get it. OTOH, there are pieces I dont get no matter how many times I listen... ;-)
Bach is indeed one of the greatest composers - certainly during the Baroque period & also in the historical context, but to say no other composer can matched his creativity is just ridiculous. creativity comes in countless forms... is Picasso more creative than da Vinci? how abt van Gogh vs. Albert Einstein?
we're all influenced by our environments & the times we live in. music - as with all arts - is a reflection of culture & society. in the context of western civilization, this has evolved from religious/ceremonial, to formalized entertainment (following the rise of bourgeois class & humanistic thought), to breaking down these formal structures & self-expression (democratization), to eventual fragmentation. the important composers either spearheaded, or significantly contributed towards these changes (otherwise none of us would even know their names).
since this post was initially started with the intention of helping those relatively new to this genre (& wanting to build a collection), my recommendation's to listen to whatever speaks to you, then assemble a collection from there. don't jump around with all these random recommendations, because you're only going to confuse yourself.
many classical newbies are accustomed to music 3 to 6 mins in length, so the longer movements can (initially) be a little daunting & difficult to concentrate thru. this is normal. your attention span will expand as you become familiar with a piece. maybe this is why some say just keep listening if you dont get it. OTOH, there are pieces I dont get no matter how many times I listen... ;-)