Who do you feel is the greatest classical composer?

[chordate68]

Mostly deaf. And actually it's a bit easier to understand if you think about it this way: if you went deaf today, would you still be able to speak? Writing music is much akin to speaking a different language, so while it's remarkable he was still able to compose music after losing his hearing, he had for years already been doing it and more or less already knew what he was doing.

I agree. Although, he wasn't just writing music, he was writing some of the most important pieces of his career.

 

[Surely]

Mozart..... because playing his music helps my 14 month old fall asleep.

 

[nunes013]

Charles Ives lived where my college is located. There is so much history and our music department loves him. I voted for Bach as I love his music however there are many other composers on that list which I love as well. They have different styles so its very hard to pick just one.

 

[andalusia]

Mozart..... because playing his music helps my 14 month old fall asleep.

Wow, no way is your kid 14 months old already.

 

[Surely]

Wow, no way is your kid 14 months old already.

Heh....time flies, doesn't it?

He'll be walking on his own any day now......

 

[Melrose]

I agree. Although, he wasn't just writing music, he was writing some of the most important pieces of his career.

True. I was just noting that his being deaf when he wrote music is largely a popular myth. But don't get me wrong, he's one of the best composers and the 7th Symphony I'd say is one of the most beautiful pieces of music in any genre ever written.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Where is Edvard Grieg?

 

[stompy]

To preface, I'm a musician; I've been playing the cello for roughly 10 years (started when I was 7). I'm also somewhat of a classical music nut (with a preference for late romantic to early modern era music); so I can say with confidence, that you're question is just simply too hard to give an answer to.

...
Baroque Period: As a cellist I have to say J.S. Bach.
...
Classical Period: Haydn, hands down.
...

Early Romantic: Schubert.
...
Late Romantic: Tie between Rimsky-Korsakov (for Scheherazade) and Elgar (for his cello concerto in E).

Modern Period: Tie between Dimitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev.

Excellent post, I may be biased because I would choose nearly the same set of composers for the same periods.

My only alterations to you list would be
Early Romantic: Schubert, Schubert and Schubert
Late Romantic: Edvard Grieg
Modern Period: Shostakovich

Thanks again, I enjoyed it your post and am going home to pull out some of your suggestions!

 

[Gregg2]

Where is Edvard Grieg?

Dead.

(Ever heard "The Composer is Dead"? It's a hoot! http://www.schirmer.com/Default.aspx?TabId=2420&State_2874=2&workId_2874=35253 )

 

[MAC-PRO-DEMON]

If we are doing a great classical composer as we are here, it is simple, bach. There is no other person to have contributed more than that of the Cantor from Leipzig. However my heart says Felix Mendelssohn. I mean come on, any child who can write their magnum opus in their teens is pretty good going, but listen to his symphonies and piano concertos and you will find a truly impressive composer

 

[digitalnicotine]

Bach. Didn't even have to think about it.

 

[cambookpro]

If you were categorising Film Soundtrack in 'Classical', I would've picked Zimmer but since it's just classical classical I'll choose Mozart.

 

[4JNA]

none of the above. John Dowland.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My absolute favorite pieces are by Mussorgsky and Prokofiev (I'm a sucker for the Russians) ...

As am I....

Challenge yourself - go outside the box. Get away from the big names! You REALLY will be surprised. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, even John Cage - absolutely brilliant. That's just a few names that I can pick out right now.

Check out Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. The premiere caused a riot - not kidding.
Shostakovich, find The Nose. He wrote an opera about a man's nose that jumps off his face and lives its own life!
Find a live performance of John Cage's 4'33". THAT is a game changer

I take your point completely, but most "popular" radio shows only feature the "well-known" composers. It can be difficult for people to "go outside the box", as "the box" is all they know, but it is something which is well worth the effort.

To that I'd add Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No 2, several of Tchaikovsky's pieces (Nutcracker Suite, 1812 Overture, Swan Lake....), Rimsky-Korsakov, agree also re Shostakovich and Prokofiev.

Cheers