General Music Chat

Another interesting thing about RG's list: Only three Americans, Copland, Gershwin and Barber. Lots of Russians, French, Germans and English.

I just thought of something. The topic is about musicians however we are talking mostly about composers. Not all composers are musicians and not all musicians are composers. Regardless I am always impressed when you guys talk about this topic.


Now that being said I did a search on American composers and found this interesting site. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/20 ... composers/

I have performed some works by Eldin Burton and Paul Koepke. Paul Koepke was still alive in 2007. I am not sure if that is still the case...hope so I really like his music. PLUS there are a lot of non-American composers who were influenced by American composers.

I just thought of something. The topic is about musicians however we are talking mostly about composers. Not all composers are musicians and not all musicians are composers

Interesting point!
If we can define the perfect musician then we can start thinking who fits this definition.

1.Flawless technique
2.Great emotion/passion
3.Fascinating image/persona
. . . wait, can this include vocalists, or is this only instrumentalists?

True Mary, the thread's topic started as the greatest musician, J.S.Bach, who was a musician and composer. I would guess that most composers are also musicians, although most musicians are not composers.

Another great American composer left off the list was Leonard Bernstein. Lenny was a great musician, and although he wasn't prolific, also a great composer. Candide and West Side Story are great works that will stand the test of time.

Etu, until the 20th century there was no way to preserve who would be considered a great musician unless the music was written down and published. So things like flawless technique, passion, persona, etc would be lost in time, with the only thing remaining being the notes on the page. Of course now we have any and every idiot uploading crap to YouTube that will be preserved forever. Cruel and ironic thing, life.

Cruel and ironic thing, life.

Dat true!

Etu, until the 20th century there was no way to preserve who would be considered a great musician unless the music was written down and published. So things like flawless technique, passion, persona, etc would be lost in time, with the only thing remaining being the notes on the page. Of course now we have any and every idiot uploading crap to YouTube that will be preserved forever. Cruel and ironic thing, life.

Don't forget , back in those days a concert was an extraordinary event to witness...it was planned around for weeks by patrons...So when the composer or conductor stepped into the light, audiences probably felt awe and wonderment. Naturally, that compensated for all the flaws for the rest of the evening... They would realize then how "influenced" the experience was... If Lenny had a chicken on his nose, they'd probably rationalize it as a part of his genius, rather than as a flaw...

I just thought of something. The topic is about musicians however we are talking mostly about composers. Not all composers are musicians and not all musicians are composers

Interesting point!
If we can define the perfect musician then we can start thinking who fits this definition.

1.Flawless technique
2.Great emotion/passion
3.Fascinating image/persona
. . . wait, can this include vocalists, or is this only instrumentalists?

Well, a vocalist is a musician.

Since no one knows how any of the great Composers sounded like when they played in essence we are finding the Greatest Composer then? Heck, Bach might have sucked (doubtful but who knows).

So, either we are finding Composers or we should limit it to musicians that we know how they sounded.

Personally, I think that we should discuss everyone. It seems like we are discussing musicians who composed. Instead of discussing musicians who have passed on to the world of (de)composition, why not discuss the musicians who are living. Perhaps even discuss composers/musicians who lived during the 20th and 21st centruies. Just know that the more we discuss this the bigger the topic grows.

Here is interesting composition concept created for the vocal instrument. I look forward to hearing this. I would not have discovered this if it weren't for the discussion here on Band Mix members.



http://www.bobbymcferrin.com/choral_bobby.php#voicestra

One of the main problems for classical music is the lack of modern composers whose music compares to the greats. John Adams and Philip Glass come to mind and are both are very good but don't really measure up IMHO. We need to make sure music appreciation is a required subject in school, and that music instruction is available to those students so inclined.

Mary I tried your link but couldn't see any music to click.

One of the main problems for classical music is the lack of modern composers whose music compares to the greats. John Adams and Philip Glass come to mind and are both are very good but don't really measure up IMHO. We need to make sure music appreciation is a required subject in school, and that music instruction is available to those students so inclined.

Mary I tried your link but couldn't see any music to click.

I'm sorry Jimmy, there is no music link just a bio on Bobby McFerrins CD. If I were teaching a Music Appreciation class I would feature Chic COrea, Bobby McFerrin. There are several Hispanic composers ( there names escape me ) but they are wonderful. Young people should know about modern day composers and they should even learn to appreciate the Hendrix and the Beatles IMHO. Give them variety and let them decide where the value lies.

The OP is "The Greatest Musican in History"
*Musician . . . ahem

So, how do we decide this?

One of the main problems for classical music is the lack of modern composers whose music compares to the greats. John Adams and Philip Glass come to mind and are both are very good but don't really measure up IMHO. We need to make sure music appreciation is a required subject in school, and that music instruction is available to those students so inclined.

Mary I tried your link but couldn't see any music to click.

You guys might find this very interesting....Max Richter is a contemporary composer (From Germany I think) who does an interesting twist. He does occasional 'mash ups'. And he has a way of drafting out a tear with some of his work.
Most recently, the Movie: Shutter Island, featured "This Bitter Earth" during the rolling credits. It grabbed me out of my seat when I heard it...especially after watching that movie/story...
I thought; how absolutely hauntingly beautiful... It was Richter's own composition "On The Nature of Daylight, mashed up with Dinah Washington's Voice, singing Clyde Otis's 1960 hit "This Bitter Earth"

Better grab a Kleenix for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXHGoaEtmFM