Your top 5 Classical composers:

alanpartridge · 02-27-2011, 09:22 PM

1. Tchaikovsky
2. Beethoven
3. Bach
4. Rachmaninov
5. Handel

Howard the Duck · 02-28-2011, 04:43 AM

you can add Gustav Holst as an optional No 6 to my list

mannny · 02-28-2011, 03:22 PM

I've been playing classical piano for a while now and I'm just in love with classical music so it's really hard for me to narrow it down to 5 composers but if I had to my list would look something like this:
1. Beethoven
2. Bach
3. Chopin
4. Dvorak
5. Tchaikovsky

To add to the conversation about Beethoven, Bach and Mozart all being considered the greats I think they really deserve it. To be honest, I never really understood the fascination with Mozart, but Bach and Beethoven made some pretty incredible accomplishments. I think a lot of it has to do with the historical context.

Bach was composing at a time where it was considered heresy to use a tritone in composition. He did some amazing things with counterpoint that really helped progress the form and manipulation of traditional music. The Art of Fugue is a perfect example of how he manipulated counterpoint to create these unbelievable multi-layered pieces. Not to mention he composed a massive amount of pieces for almost every instrument.

Beethoven is widely considered to be the founder of Romanticism. By analyzing the progression of his piano sonatas, it clearly shows his movement from Classical to Romantic. He started out with some innovative yet conservative sonata form movements and by the end of his time he completely broke sonata form down into extremely dramatic and powerful movements which Romanticism is known for. He was the first to write development sections that ran for the bulk of the piece and this continued onto later composers of the Romantic era creating pieces that seem like one big dramatic development.

So that's just my two cents on why I think they really deserve all the praise they receive.

zachsd · 03-07-2011, 09:19 PM

1) J.S. Bach (by far number one)
2) Mozart
3) Beethoven
4) Rachmaninoff
5) Chopin

starrynight · 03-10-2011, 06:42 AM

Mozart
Beethoven
JS Bach
Haydn
Schubert

Howard the Duck · 03-10-2011, 06:47 AM

Tchaikovsky as No. 7

Engine · 03-12-2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zachsd

1) J.S. Bach (by far number one)
2) Mozart
3) Beethoven
4) Rachmaninoff
5) Chopin

Fucking solid. I'm curious about why, if you don't mind explaining details.

StEvEn1 · 03-14-2011, 03:28 PM

Beethoven
Paul Dukas
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Mozart

starrynight · 03-15-2011, 03:46 AM

Dukas wrote very little though.

I love The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier).
Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice | | guardian.co.uk Arts

Psem5 · 03-20-2011, 07:24 AM

Chopin
Rachmaninov
Boris Tchaikovsky
Shostakovich
Beethoven

I love all of their piano concertos and Chopin's nocturnes.

02-28-2011, 03:22 PM	#113 (permalink)
mannny **** Steve Harvey Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: MASS Posts: 423	I've been playing classical piano for a while now and I'm just in love with classical music so it's really hard for me to narrow it down to 5 composers but if I had to my list would look something like this: 1. Beethoven 2. Bach 3. Chopin 4. Dvorak 5. Tchaikovsky To add to the conversation about Beethoven, Bach and Mozart all being considered the greats I think they really deserve it. To be honest, I never really understood the fascination with Mozart, but Bach and Beethoven made some pretty incredible accomplishments. I think a lot of it has to do with the historical context. Bach was composing at a time where it was considered heresy to use a tritone in composition. He did some amazing things with counterpoint that really helped progress the form and manipulation of traditional music. The Art of Fugue is a perfect example of how he manipulated counterpoint to create these unbelievable multi-layered pieces. Not to mention he composed a massive amount of pieces for almost every instrument. Beethoven is widely considered to be the founder of Romanticism. By analyzing the progression of his piano sonatas, it clearly shows his movement from Classical to Romantic. He started out with some innovative yet conservative sonata form movements and by the end of his time he completely broke sonata form down into extremely dramatic and powerful movements which Romanticism is known for. He was the first to write development sections that ran for the bulk of the piece and this continued onto later composers of the Romantic era creating pieces that seem like one big dramatic development. So that's just my two cents on why I think they really deserve all the praise they receive. __________________

03-07-2011, 09:19 PM	#114 (permalink)
zachsd Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 347	1) J.S. Bach (by far number one) 2) Mozart 3) Beethoven 4) Rachmaninoff 5) Chopin __________________ lastfm rym

03-15-2011, 03:46 AM	#119 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	Dukas wrote very little though. I love The Sorcerer's Apprentice (L'apprenti sorcier). Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice \| \| guardian.co.uk Arts Last edited by starrynight; 03-15-2011 at 04:11 AM.

02-27-2011, 09:22 PM	#111 (permalink)
alanpartridge Groupie Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 15	1. Tchaikovsky 2. Beethoven 3. Bach 4. Rachmaninov 5. Handel

02-28-2011, 04:43 AM	#112 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	you can add Gustav Holst as an optional No 6 to my list

03-10-2011, 06:42 AM	#115 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	Mozart Beethoven JS Bach Haydn Schubert

03-10-2011, 06:47 AM	#116 (permalink)
Howard the Duck Live by the Sword Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Posts: 9,075	Tchaikovsky as No. 7

03-14-2011, 03:28 PM	#118 (permalink)
StEvEn1 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 15	Beethoven Paul Dukas Tchaikovsky Stravinsky Mozart

03-20-2011, 07:24 AM	#120 (permalink)
Psem5 Groupie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Plymouth Posts: 23	Chopin Rachmaninov Boris Tchaikovsky Shostakovich Beethoven I love all of their piano concertos and Chopin's nocturnes.