[Edward Elgar]

That was the problem... it was revolutionary.

Stravinsky's Rite springs to mind.

I have the score for the piano concerto, and I don't rate it as one of his best works. Saying that, it is pretty good!

 

[Edward Elgar]

I am sure several other forum-ers will disagree with me!

I agree with you! His material is gold, which makes any orchestration blemishes insignificant. In fact I like them! I think "mud" can be translated to "Germanic richness" which I very much prefer.

One of my old teachers said he didn't like Brahms because the melodies didn't go where he wanted. This is no criticism and devalues Brahms' attempt to develop his melodies to fit in with Beethoven's tradition.

Brahms is one of the greats imo; the link between Beethoven and Schoenberg.

 

[Edward Elgar]

That's the genius of the man, he could turn his hand to anything, popular or serious, intimate or intimidating, or all together!

His symphonies do have a perfection about them, as if they have been galvanised in platinum! They are what Beethoven was trying to say in his middle period, but more Romantic.

 

[Edward Elgar]

When Beethoven was going through his middle period, Brahms would have been Beethoven's superior at that point. It's only because of Beethoven's late period that no other composer can touch him.