Favorite Modern Composer

Pretty self explanatory, all in all.

Ahh... this was a tough one! I voted for Ligeti and Elfman, but all of those composers had some wonderful moments...

Where is Penderecki?

Where is Penderecki?

In with "Other." He does deserve his own spot, but I was working out of my composition coursebooks primarily, and he's not in there. He won't be until next year, in the "Experimental" module.

Can't beat Xenakis. mmm gendy3

Nobody else has nearly the understanding he does of the relationship between math and music, and his electronic music is totally unique.

My film vote was for Elfman, and guess who else I voted for... :)

I'm a bit disappointed that Carlisle Floyd wasn't on the list. Carlisle is rapidly becoming the greatest known American composer of all time. His opera Susannah, is becoming the most popularly performed American opera in the world, second only to Porgy and Bess. Floyd is a real genius in how he writes both the music and his own libretti. He also set my favorite novel (Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men") into my favorite opera.

Also note, Danny Elfman was my first choice as film composer, but Don Davis was a close second.

Man this is a hard pic, between John Williams, Hans Zimmer (composed the music for The Da Vinci Code too, btw) or other... ;)

Btw Eric Satie, is he classified as modern?

Shostakovich is my favorite out of these, he can create some adventurous soundscapes. My pick for a film composer would be Hisashi, his music is extremely interesting. Let me also add that I would like to pee in Hans Zimmers face one day... ;)

c'mon he aint so bad, Letehn!

Eric Satie is classified as Late Romantic composer, around the same time as Debussy and Poulenc. Satie was one weird guy, though, don't know if I'd call him my favorite. Do you know there was a period in his life where he only wore ONE crushed velvet suit because he wanted to promote it as modern day fashion? He also carried an umbrella around all the time, even if it wasn't raining, and if it DID happen to rain, he would stick it under his coat to protect it. He also organized his own religion of which there was only one member... himself.

Eric Satie is classified as Late Romantic composer, around the same time as Debussy and Poulenc. Satie was one weird guy, though, don't know if I'd call him my favorite. Do you know there was a period in his life where he only wore ONE crushed velvet suit because he wanted to promote it as modern day fashion? He also carried an umbrella around all the time, even if it wasn't raining, and if it DID happen to rain, he would stick it under his coat to protect it. He also organized his own religion of which there was only one member... himself.

I'm personally quite inspired by those two:P

I'm quite surprised you added so many rather un heard of composers without putting my good friend Serge Prokofiev up there. I'd have picked him if he were there.

There's only 4 names on that list I've never heard of before! And is Prokofiev really a modern composer? I think it's time we start classifying composers like Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and those guys into their own period. We'll call it the Slavic era!

Who other than me voted for Hisashi?? I'll be your best friend. (I've got a feeling i'll regret this)

Somewhat off topic here, but who likes John Field?

Where is Gershwin? Come on, you can't leave out Gershwin

Gershwin sucks.

Please, please, PLEASE tell me you aren't serious about that!

Monkeysinfezzes - I wouldn't consider Gershwin "modern." "20th Century" and "modern" are two different things.

Gershwin sucks.

:angry:

:angry:

My oh my, none of you know me yet, apparently. Gershwin doesn't suck, I don't even see how anyone could hate him...that was the....wow I've lost all hope in you.

:)

It's just that I take it very seriously when someone bashes something I like, even when it's just a joke :)

it's a bit hard to tell sarcasm over the internet, I find....but yeah, I love Gershwin :)...of course, I put Shostakovich down, but still, Gershwin's an amazing composer.

I voted other both times,

1. I don't have one in this category yet

2. Harry Gregson Williams (for his work in Narnia)

Do you realize that at the time when Igor Stravinsky and Maurice Ravel were working together, George Gershwin tried to elicit trainging from either one or both of them. They refused him stating that it was THEY who should be studying with HIM, as he had become such a popular melody writer in America.

I voted other both times,

1. I don't have one in this category yet

2. Harry Gregson Williams (for his work in Narnia)

Honestly, I felt Harry Gregson-Williams' work was just Howard Shore meets John Williams, really.

Berg.

Among the Americans: Peter Mennin. (Hard to choose as the Americans have many excellent modern composers.)

:happytears: