Greatest Composers of All Time

Hi Brownsfan - I would certainly agree that a case for Britten in a top 15 is a very strong one.

@Newbee - it could be argued (and I have, against no less an authority than Robert Greenberg) that Wagner had a greater effect on the development of music than any other artist has ever had on their particular art. He is the textbook definition of a true iconoclast. As influential as Beethoven was, music still developed along roughly the same lines after him - whereas after Wagner, it splinters off into all kinds of different reactions, both for and against what he did. Harmony in particular was changed forever.

I would have Schubert in the top five for just what he composed in the last year of his life.

Stravinsky should be in the top fifteen, particularly for his influence on subsequent generations of composers--Rites of Spring was a real game changer.

Although I don't quite know where to place them, the mid century Brits loom large in my estimation--Britten, Walton, Vaughn Williams are all favorites of mine, and others, such as Alwyn are pretty good too.

I would have Schoenberg, Bartok and Shostakovich up pretty high as well for somewhat modern composers.

It would be interesting to see how deep one must go before an American born composer makes the list--Ives, Copland, Barber, Adams, Beach ???

Who, and where placed, would be the first female composer? I have works by about two dozen female composers but none, except Hildegard von Bingen, would be considered major composers.

Learsfool, If you ever get the chance you might enjoy hearing Wagner performed in a small hall with period instruments as it would have during the times he composed. Enjoyable and informative. Hard to find though I think. Barry Wordsworth/New Queen's Hall Orchestra/Eye of the Storm 5001 CD.

Re Beethoven - I would argue that his taking us out of the form of music that preceeded him into the 'romantic' period was huge. For example we went from symphonic form with movements not necesarily sharing anything that were unifying into a 'whole' piece. And, re influence, everyone followed his path. While its readily apparent in the music of Hayden and Mozart I'll throw out an example which clearly illustrates the seperation of movements in the classical period. Mozart's Elvira Madigan Piano Concerto (#21). Where did that 2d movement come from? How does it relate to the first and last movement. Love it anyway, but....

PS I realize that you know all of that and much more, I just really wanted to mention the Wagner HIP recording and its use of period horns but I got carried away.

Schubertmaniac, Only slightly off topic, but since Schubert is your favorite composer I'll ask you - or anyone else who can respond for that matter.

What do you think of Paul Lewis' recordings of Schubert's music for solo piano released in the last year or so? I've been really impressed so far. One CD down, 3 to go. I was mesmerized by his performance of some of the Impromptus'.

Newbee, an answer from"anyone else." I like Lewis's Schubert very much, but I like Richter's better. They are older, with dated sonics, some audience noise, but personally, its the best Schubert I've heard. Cheap too, on the alto label. Praga has a couple SACD releases (remasters I assume) that I haven't heard yet. For the money, the Alto releases are a no brainer.