Thread: Is There a Great Composer You Plain Just Don't Like

To answer the original question: I don't think so. I'm sure there is something I like from just about any composer and any time period. But in general anything pre-romantic, as great as it may be, starts to bore me a lot quicker than romantic music. Romantic, late romantic and some modernish music is what I like to listen to most of the time.

I have difficulty getting into Britten. I can't find a work of his that I can say I thoroughly enjoy; I've come to the realization that I merely tolerate his work.

Although I absolutely despise his abuse of the piano, I do like some of Stockhausen's electronic music.

I count among my dislikes, Mendelsshon, Wagner and Ricard Strauss. I have no idea why I dislike Mendelsshon but Strauss and Wagner I just find bloated.

Originally Posted by dmg

I have difficulty getting into Britten. I can't find a work of his that I can say I thoroughly enjoy; I've come to the realization that I merely tolerate his work.

I just find his music to just be really static (and I think that was intentional). Thus, I don't blame you. I guess Part's music is similar, but I just like his orchestration better, so the stasis bothers me less.

I never met a composer I didn't like.

(I've never actually met any composer, to be perfectly truthful...)

Not a fan of any of the atonal composers, though I wish I were. Also, I can't stand Fur Elise...I think it's from hearing so many 10-year-olds stumble through it in music class in grade school. And the McDonalds commercial that reiterated this point didn't help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2yklZeEbFE

Bartok maybe. Just don't find his music that melodic.

Originally Posted by neoshredder

Bartok maybe. Just don't find his music that melodic.

And why music must be melodic?

For a long time mine have been Bruckner and R. Strauss, but at this point I think I probably have to remove Bruckner from my list. The last half-dozen or so times I've heard a Bruckner symphony, I've liked it.

I'll probably ride this for awhile, sinking my teeth into Bruckner's music, and then I'll work harder on R. Strauss again.

Ravel and Tchaikovsky. And Brahms (well only his symphonies) Tchaikovsky is just so easy and doesn't offer very much to think about. I prefer Bruckner, who is much deeper. I use to like Tchaikovsky, but only in Manfred and francecsa da Rimini, which are his most powerful compositions. Tchaikovsky oscilliates between sugarplum Wagner and semi-quotation of some russian plain-chant. I'm sorry but this doesn't make him a great composer.
Ravel, is I think underrated, but I just don't get it. We see him criticize Strauss for putting too much notes, and he composes pieces with no purpose. plus, he completely denies Wagner. It's always the same thing with Ravel, even if it's great, it's a little bit superficial.
And as an accomplished (sort of) violinist, i can tell you that I hate all virtuoso composers of the 19th century. Wieniawsky, Paganini (maybe not him), Sarasate, Ernst, it's not interesting at all. it's not even music anymore! it's violin stunts and useless monkey tricks! Music should give the audience something to think about. Who could give them something to think about otherwise?
morality: praise Wagner and Bach.

Originally Posted by aleazk

And why music must be melodic?

To be more enjoyable.

Originally Posted by neoshredder

To be more enjoyable.

Bartok wasn't easy for me, so I understand where you're coming from. What initially got me was the Reiner/Chicago recording of the Concerto for Orchestra etc.... But after that I was stuck for a long time. And I was determined to like him!

The violin concerto was the next thing that got me, as well as pretty much everything from the Menuhin 2-disk set from EMI. If I'd gone for the Miraculous Mandarin earlier, I believe I would've liked it too.

The piano concertos were absolutely the hardest for me. I probably listened to them a dozen times before I started genuinely enjoying them.

I don't know if you're interested in pursuing Bartok now, but just in case... and regardless, I can certainly relate !

Milhaud--his music is just plain stupid to me.

Originally Posted by Kontrapunctus

Milhaud--his music is just plain stupid to me.

What have you heard?

As a musical descendent of Milhaud, I must defend his honor!