20th Century Composers


OK, since this seems like a top ten kind of week. Name the three most influential composers of the 20th century?

1. Anton Webern, just because he is.
2. J. Brahms, because virtually all movie composers in the 20th century all have Brahms on their brain when composing.
(ok some of them have R. Strauss upstairs,too) Yes I know he died in 1897 but his influence is still felt today
3. Van Morrison, for creating the most lustful rock anthem of all time, Gloria (Hendrix loved doing this song in concert, and so did Jim Morrison)
shubertmaniac
Before trying to respond to your post, please define what you mean "most influential composers of the 20th Century". Do you mean composers who were born after 1900, or are you including composers who were born in the 19th century but lived into the 20th century?
1.Stravinsky
2.Hindemith
3.Copland

honorable mention

Ellington
Horace Silver
Wayne Shorter
George Gershwin, Rogers/Hammerstein, Lennon/McCartney Honorable mention to Cole Porter, Ira Cohen(for his Frank Sinatra work), Bob Dylan, Elmore James
The Russians: Shostakovich, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Prokofiev.


The Brits: Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Britten


The Americans: Copland, Gershwin, and ..........


The finest living composer of symphonic music. Someone who gets no respect from the critics because of the chosen medium that he composes for......John Williams.


Think about all of the dozens and dozens of symphonic melodies, marches, anthems, fanfares, etc, composed by John that are instantly recognizable by everyone the world over. Remember, during the golden era of opera, that was the "theater" (show tunes). Beethoven, Haydn, Handel, Rossini, etc were all just as rich and famous. Haydn wrote mostly for parties and the entertainment pleasure of Royalty, etc. Rossini's operas were performed at Casinos, for one simple reason ($$$$$$$). What John is doing is no different. But like many great artists, he will have to be dead for 50 years before anyone takes notice.

I saw a recording at Borders of a cello concerto and other cello works by John Williams, performed by Yo-Yo Ma. The concerto was composed for Mr. Ma I believe. I think I will give it a listen

John Cage, Elliott Carter, and Leo Brouwer -- As for John Williams, Five Sacred Trees really shows what he can do and is great on a high end system.