Greatest living composer? Including 'recently' deceased!

[Beef Oven!]

It's Penderecki, isn't it?

It used to be Elliott Carter, Didn't it?

Twenty five years ago, I'd have said Robert Simpson. But, back then I was unfamiliar with Penderecki and Carter.

Of the younger blokes*, for me it's Richard Barrett (he'd hate 'greatest', 'best of' etc I'm sure!)

I like a fair bit of James MacMillan's music (but not that 2015 Prom orchestral piece!), but he doesn't come close, for me.

Any views?

P.S. 'Recently' deceased is 10 years, isn't it? - does that include Michael? Can't remember off the top of my head. Ornette gets in comfortably. Does Miles?


* Let's say women, too!!

[Pabmusic]

This must be a contender for the Most Bizarre Title award.

Elliott Carter is a contender for Best Living Composer?

At least James Horner is still in contention.

Can we include him in Adopt a Composer? (http://www.soundandmusic.org/project...-composer-2015)

[Pabmusic]

... Let's say women, too!!

Why not?

[Pabmusic]

Read the rubric, sonny.

I was never any good at those cubes.

Or do you mean the thing Caesar crossed?

[Beef Oven!]

Any takers on Wolfgang Rihm?

[P. G. Tipps]

In my most humble of humble opinions composers should be dead and buried (or, if preferred, burned) for a century or two before they can truly deserve any sort of supreme accolade.

The 'greats' continue to speak to future generations and, sadly, we'll never know whether those around now are actually 'great' enough to do so.

Who knows ... time-anointed 'greats' might well in future include that promising and very much alive young laddie called Hinton?

[Beef Oven!]

Who knows ... time-anointed 'greats' might well in future include that promising and very much alive young laddie called Hinton?

Hinton's string quintet is certainly a favourite of mine, but it might not make him a ............

[Black Swan]

Any takers on Wolfgang Rihm?

I too am a bit hesitant to add 'Greatest' to any living composer.

However, Rihm, Boulez? But from for me personally, I could not include MacMillan. I just don't get his music, although I have tried.

J

[Beef Oven!]

I too am a bit hesitant to add 'Greatest' to any living composer.

However, Rihm, Boulez? But from for me personally, I could not include MacMillan. I just don't get his music, although I have tried.

J

Agreed.

Boulez!

[Mary Chambers]

I think of there was a 'great' one we would probably know. Would anyone consider Adès?

[MrGongGong]

The 'greats' continue to speak to future generations and, sadly, we'll never know whether those around now are actually 'great' enough to do so.

I think this is what is commonly known as "guff"

The "best" music survives and the rest is consigned to the dustbin of history?

I don't think this is always true at all.

[Bryn]

I think of there was a 'great' one we would probably know. Would anyone consider Adès?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I think of there was a 'great' one we would probably know.

Some if us already do.



(And it ain't Ades.)

[Conchis]

I listened to Ades' opera The Tempest recently - and was surprised to (quite) enjoy it.

The whole enterprise comes perilously close to being sunk, though, by its dreadful libretto.

[Stanfordian]

I too am a bit hesitant to add 'Greatest' to any living composer.

However, Rihm, Boulez? But from for me personally, I could not include MacMillan. I just don't get his music, although I have tried.

J

I would suggest Wolfgang Rihm and although very different in style John Adams too