Influential Composers Discussion

What I want to know, without being too focused on one circumstance, is who were greatly influential composers and I'd like to know who they did so influence. For me the fault of research is that I get too involved on one subject. I need to be part in listening to an all around topic on "influence" and not an in depth focus on one composer.

This should be a thread where you can spout your knowledge on the subject of influence of say classical and romantic composers and weave among the great names and pieces without concentrating on just one opinion (not necessarily true but possible.) Tell why you think a composer is influential, being that he influenced this other influential composer greatly. You can even just talk about composers that influenced your favorite composer or you. Yes that's right. Opinions. I'll except them as they come.

You can give real music examples and state how much a piece sounds like an older piece by an older composer, using available youtube videos and such. If you are a true researcher, you might have a link to some good past discussions about influential composers from this forum.

Remember: What I'm looking for are connections, ie. connect this composer to other ones, state reason, and explain your claims with details.

I'm sure past threads ask for the most influential composers. I just want a topic on influential composers in general where more information is spread around to those who are curious, such as myself. And the topic can start out anywhere really, so long as it is about great influence in music. I'm not going to ask for anyone specifically because I would rather someone be obsessive and not be forced by a strict question. Thanks in advance for your understanding of my need for a breadthy conversation.

If I had more authority I could require a competitive argument :/

Well, although I do not completely know the reason (I have not listened to much of his work yet) I have heard that Berg was very influenced by Mahler.

Schoenberg was obviously influential to composers such as Webern, Boulez, etc.

Bach I think would be considered an influence to everyone, except possibly completely atonal composers or musique concrete composers.

Do you think these facts are conceived from quotes or actual comparison in music? Would you be able to provide either to a detailed extent?

Well, although I do not completely know the reason (I have not listened to much of his work yet) I have heard that Berg was very influenced by Mahler.

Schoenberg was obviously influential to composers such as Webern, Boulez, etc.

Bach I think would be considered an influence to everyone, except possibly completely atonal composers or musique concrete composers.

Bach is most incredibly influential to completely atonal composers. Alot of these composers, since they aren't relying on tonality rely on motivic development ideas that are found in the contrapuntal work of Bach and other baroque composers (that is.. inversion, retrograde, augmentation, diminution etc. etc.. of a melodic motive)

I would even venture to say that a few musique concrete pieces use similar methods when making variations of a certain sound (stretch it.. reverse it.. chop it up and smack it back together etc.) OK.. that might be a stretch.......

As for an influential composer, I would say Messiaen. Apart from the fact that his music is likely influential, the list of composers that studied with him is impressive. Bigger names include, Boulez, Stockhausen, Xenakis, Peter Maxwell Davies, and George Benjamin.