Greatest Influences on Your Music

Favorite composers, eh? I have a ton of composers whose music I adore and I have bought tons of CDS of their music. Now, if I count up all the CDs by a particular composer I own, I end up with a list about like this:

Ernst von Dohnányi
Robert Simpson
John Corigliano
Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Ralph Vaughan-Williams
Franz Liszt
Béla Bartók
Arnold Bax
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Howard Hanson

Some big names, some lesser well knowns. And there are a lot of individual pieces by ocmposers that have had a huge impact on me. Honestly, I've only found a handful of composers whose music turned me off.

In no particular order
Classical
Bach
Beethoven
Liszt
Mahler
Schoenberg
Webern
Stravinsky
Berio
Messaien
Stockhausen
Reich
Riley
Varese
Xenakis
Non Classical
Richard Devine
Autechre
Squarepusher
Simon Posford
Brian Eno
Lustmord
Infected Mushroom

I just saw this thread.

I only really have 3 composers that influence my work. My top 3, even though I admittedly almost rely entirely on one composer for my guidance:

1. Chopin 97% (I like Bach too, but there is alot of Bach in Chopin, so I indirectly learn Bach from Chopin)
2. Rachmaninoff 2.5%
3. Franz Liszt 0.5%

Lately, I have been completely relying on Chopin for my writing, but in my earlier works, you can definitely hear my Rachmaninoff influence especially in my 2nd and 3rd Ballades. You can hear some Liszt influence in my first Scherzo. Then I lost interest in Liszt. I only really like his sonata in B minor, but some of his works are pretty good which is why he was worth studying a little.

In my real early days, I liked Scott Joplin. So therefore, my earlier works are a bunch of ragtime music.

Local music

In no particualr order: (Music)

Chopin
Ulver
Franz Liszt
Opeth
Deathspell Omega
And Oceans
Akercocke
Boards of Canada
Mozart
Burzum
Beethoven
Darkthrone
Drudkh
Vader

And unmusical insparations to my music:

The Earth, it's beings and fruitful beauties
the Moon
personal experiances
art
philosophy
my spirituality(s)

Theres a lot more musical influence both in my listening and other stuff except I'd perfer not to think too much right now

1:MYSELF (30%)
2:Beethoven (30%)
3:Schubert (20%)
4:Brahms (10%)
5:Alkan (10%)

So you're not open to new influences then, Maestro?

Influences that come to mind:
Schoenberg
Mahler
Richard Strauss(ORCHESTRATION ALL THE WAY!!)
Berg
Stravinsky
Beehtoven
Cage
Satie(two peas of the same shepards pie)
Scriabin
Arvo Part
Bloch
Bryant
Schubert
Mozart
Bach
Shostakovich
Mendelsshon
Brahms(With his lyricism and development)
Penderecki
Dvorak
Tchaikovsky
Sink(My composition teacher!!)
Chopin(not the moderator guy,although i haven't heard his pieces, maybe the moderator chopin could)
Rachmaninoff
Ralph VAUGHAN WILLIAMS!(AMAZING!! just Amazing)
Salereli(The guy who supposedly killed mozart) Taught me its alright to be a second rate composer or lower, ALOT LOWER!
Schumman
Palestrina(ahhhhhhhhhh!!)
SAM ADLER!!
John Williams
John Adams
John Corigliano

Well theres more! but I don't think I could ever put Wagner up there. Maybe someday I'll learn to appreciate him.

My gosh I forgot to put Sibelius!!!!!!!! The true creator of pop music

Also I think if Chopin lived longer he would have created Jazz.

I can't give anything in percent, because there is so many different areas involved.

In counterpoint, Handel is my main influence; Beethoven for structure, timpani, etc.; Tchaikovsky and Dvorak for melody and orchestration (Tchaikovsky for percussion and tone color especially); folk, pop, and country for chords/harmony (other than counterpoint); folk and modern music was also an influence for melody.