The Most Over-rated Composer!, Who do you think it is? Options

[Boo Radley]

Ok I realise that this is a negative question but I also think that it would be fabulously interesting to see what everyone thinks. Note 'over-rated', not 'worst'. The ones who you hear about constantly but either can't get into or just find insipid or trite! Please also note that I have not put living composers such as John Williams, Einaudi, etc. Don't take these into consideration, I am only referring to ones who have shaped our musical past.

Please excuse any glaring omissions I have made, it is very difficult with only 20 choices (2 of which aren't composers anyway) to cover everybody's opinions of who are the 'big fish' of the composing world. And don't be afraid of being controversial! I'll start the ball rolling by voting for . . . . . . . Bach (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[Oddball]

Boo, how could you?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

I voted Brahms I'm afraid. Just can't get into it...

[Boo Radley]

I'd also like to point out that this could be an educational experience for us all, getting to know a bit more about a composer whose full merits we haven't yet come to appreciate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Oddy - What about the Hungarian dances? I know I'll get slated but I just can't understand why everyone raves about Bach.

[janexxx]

Boo, what Bach are you basing your opinion on? Maybe you've just been hit with a load of chorales to harmonise which is enough to put anyone off.

What do you think to the Chaconne?

Oddy, I told you before to go and listen to the Brahms violin sonatas? Have you? and do you still not like Brahms.

I have voted for Vivaldi, but I thnk maybe as a composer of his time he was probably OK...just all seems too "samey" to me now.

And thank goodness for a musical poll and not scarey biscuits (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[jazzywench]

Mahler, have listened and listened and I just can't like it. I once wrote in a uni essay recalling Mahler's sessions with Freud and suggested he should have paid more attention to Freud's theory with the preoccupation with size! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Less can be more.....

[andante_in_c]

Vivaldi, for much the same reason as janexxx. Although I was tempted to join Oddball with Brahms as well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[YetAnotherPianist]

I'll start the ball rolling by voting for . . . . . . . Bach (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

*cries*

I didn't used to like J.S.Bach's music either - AP can recall me playing my grade 8 Bach with a very very bored look on my face (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif). Post-grade 8, I didn't touch the stuff for a few years.

Then, I decided that it was perhaps for the best that I included a prelude and fugue for my DipABRSM programme and bought the Well-Tempered Clavier. I chose one to work on (see the recordings site (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) and pottered around with the rest of the book as music-reading practice. Pretty soon, I got into it quite heavily - from the point of view of playing and reading the music, it's incredibly exciting and full of detail.

Now, still, I like listening to Bach but I get far more of a thrill from being part of it and actually playing the music. There's also the whole excitement of how to embellish and ornament the printed score.

So don't write Bach off just yet. You've just done well in your grade 6, maybe have a look at the Sarabande from Partita 1:

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_ne...mposition_id=75

On the page it isn't too complex, so embellish (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif). Have fun with it. For some starting points look at:

http://idrs.colorado.edu/Publications/Jour...L3/baroque.html

But, I digress. I voted Sibelius - I've never quite got into it. There's the odd good piece - Finlandia, for instance - but the rest seems to be cookie-cutter music with no particular depth of character.

[barry-clari]

Vivaldi, for much the same reason as janexxx.

Oh dear, I've gone for Vivaldi too, and again for much the same reasons as Jane. With Bach, there's enough variety in his works to prevent me from voting for him, and I've always liked Brahms!

[YetAnotherPianist]

I'm not having a good time of it - I like Vivaldi too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif).

The remedy is Rachel Podger's recording of La Stravaganza (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif).

[Boo Radley]

Oh dear I knew this would be terrible for some. If it's any consolation, I really like Brahms! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

YAP, re: Bach, I have downloaded the Partita and the Sarabande looks ok, except for those demisemiquavers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) My piano teacher doesn't really rate Bach either but has still requested that I learn a piece from the WTC, for the sake of my repertoire and technique. It's prelude No. 6 and is quite nice really.

This probably sounds awful, but the thought of ornamenting the score really doesn't fill me with excitement. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Never mind, I have many years of piano playing still to come. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Oh no! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) I missed out Mendelssohn! Never mind, everybody loves Mendelssohn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[barry-clari]

If it's any consolation, I really like Brahms! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Brahms' clarinet music is really good to both listen to and play. That alone is enough to not vote for Brahms. I do like his piano works too (though there's not a lot of chance of me ever playing them...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) )

[andante_in_c]

If it's any consolation, barry-clari, given the choice I would have voted for the entire romantic period (with the possible exception of Mendelssohn and the Russian composers).

[Boo Radley]

If it's any consolation, barry-clari, given the choice I would have voted for the entire romantic period (with the possible exception of Mendelssohn and the Russian composers).

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) This is why I find it so fascinating. An friend of mine (who is 70) loves his Bach and Handel keyboard works but just doesn't have the time of day for Chopin, Grieg or Mendelssohn, which I just struggle to comprehend as I am almost the exact opposite!

[barry-clari]

If it's any consolation, barry-clari, given the choice I would have voted for the entire romantic period.

May be a clarinet thing Andante - being a first choice clarinettist I have much more affinity with Classical/Romantic music than with Baroque (even though Bach and Handel in particular from the Baroque era are fine composers in my opinion). Having said that though. of course, I've blown the dust off my recorders recently. I could be (partially) converted, you know!..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[andante_in_c]

It's possibly a flute thing as well - very little written for flute during the 19th century apart from studies. Of course, the Boehm flute was being developed around this time.

Having said that, I steer clear of the romantic repertoire for piano too. Too much emphasis on chords for my little fingers, and, above all, I dislike pieces with obvious melodies and harmonies, and there's rather a lot of this in the romantic period. Give me some nice Baroque or Renaissance counterpoint anyday, or some lovely twentieth century unexpected harmonies. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)