Composers Forum is a daily web log that allows invited contemporary composers to share their thoughts and ideas on any topic that interests them--from the ethereal, like how new music gets created, music history, theory, performance, other composers, alive or dead, to the mundane, like getting works played and recorded and the joys of teaching. If you're a professional composer and would like to participate, send us an e-mail.
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It's not my place to say who would be the top 10 composers of the last century based on establishment cred and respect of musicians; one would of course have to do a real survey. My $0.02 (in no particular order) of whom I would rate in terms of credibility and lasting influence:
Stravinsky
Schoenberg
Cage
Reich
Shostakovich
Webern
Bartok
Copland
Messiaen
Feldman
A few observations: note that neither Carter nor Boulez are on my list (like that's a surprise). I would also posit that Feldman is among the most significant composers on this list, up there with Cage and Schoenberg (of course, MF would have despised that dichotomy). Not all of these are particularly well-programmed in the US, including Feldman.
A more interesting list, however, would be that of composers who should be on the list, but generally aren't:
LaMonte Young (his significance is far underrated)
Partch
Lou Harrison
Dallapicolla
Riley
John Adams
Hindemith
Varese (would have been in the list above except none of the others could be bounced from the list)
Scelsi
Part
Again, this is just my opinion and has no validity whatsoever.
posted by David Toub
3:39 PM
