Who is the Greatest (Not Favourite) Composer

Originally Posted by Floydman

I never understand Beethoven, I cant stand the symphonies I've heard by him. Can someone give me a suggestion of where I should start.

His 3rd? 5th? 7th 8th 9th?

You know you must've not listened to a lot of beeth if you don't like his music...try his piano concerto..or Violin concerto..his string quartets are amazing as well..see if you can find some around

I can see how someone might not care for Beethoven, or might fail to understand him. His music, particularly the later stuff, can be rather thick and opaque. Even early on he tended to be noisy and obstreperous at times. Those qualities are part of what makes his music great, but it isn't exactly "easy listening."

However, I do want to change my mind about my vote in the early days of this thread for Mozart as the greatest composer, particularly since part of my rationale was a hypothetical argument of what he might have become had he lived longer. Using that logic, what might Beethoven have become had he not had deafness to deal with as an obstacle - a considerable impediment to a musician? Or was it his deafness and musical isolation that made him as great as he was? Interesting points to ponder, but pointless as arguments, since we cannot possibly know.

My vote changes to Beethoven for reasons others have already cited capably, as well as a renewed appreciation based on a year of studying his keyboard works on the fortepiano, which precipitated further study and appreciation of his output in other areas. I tend to prefer his earlier works, but his singular importance in the history of music is undeniable to me now. Not only was he arguably the culmination of the Classical era, but he ushered in a new era, in effect, on his own.

It's unfortunate that the list is so small. There are so many incredible composers, but out of those, I've chosen Brahms.

Bach is, bar none, the greatest composer of all time. He single-handedly brought an end to the Baroque era by rendering all the forms totally obsolete himself... it's both scary and depressing, really.

First, we need to define the word: Greatest. What does that word actually means? Can you simply use that word between two composers to make proper meanful comparation? I think not.

I think of "greatest" in terms of achievement, honestly. Beethoven comes very close indeed to Bach's greatness, as Beethoven also turned the musical world on its head. But Bach did it a different way which, to me, is greater. I suppose that it's that Beethoven did it by force, whereas Bach just mastered everything...

Once you get to a certain level there's no real way to say who's the greatest. Obviously Beethoven is 'greater' than the sound of somebody farting.

Out of the list, I'd probably go with Tschaikovsky, but if Mozart had been alive at the time of Tschaikovsky, there's no knowing what he could have achieved.

you don't expand the choices enough

Originally Posted by Violist

Bach is, bar none, the greatest composer of all time. He single-handedly brought an end to the Baroque era by rendering all the forms totally obsolete himself... it's both scary and depressing, really.

If Binary form, fugue and Ritornello form are obselete then I'm a polar bear.

Originally Posted by Violist

Bach ... single-handedly brought an end to the Baroque era by rendering all the forms totally obsolete himself... it's both scary and depressing, really.

That's funny, but I think it overemphasises Bach's contemporary influence. He was an offshoot of a dying breed, a musical dead-end from which would later spring renewed interest in counterpoint when his works were reappraised. Telemann was much more highly rated at the time.

I voted for Bach, but not because of his place in musical history - simply because his music delights me on so many levels. If 'great' must be distinct from favourite, and some objective judgement is expected, then I'm afraid I can't answer. Without defining 'greatest' I can do no better than rely on gut instinct.