"Where have the great composers gone?"

[subcontrabass]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/jul/20/where-have-the-great-composers-gone

[MrGongGong]

I was waiting for this to be mentioned
which has been well and truly trashed on social media

[Richard Barrett]

I was waiting for this to be mentioned
which has been well and truly trashed on social media

... and deservedly so, and I'm not going to waste my time commenting further on it here.

[MrGongGong]

... and deservedly so, and I'm not going to waste my time commenting further on it here.

Indeed

[Beef Oven!]

Have I missed something here, or is the author of this non-article saying that a composer needs to be great (whatever that means) and greatness is measured by how recognisable they are in restaurants and ATM queues? Are we then to turn to his/her music, to add another dimension to the discussion?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The real question that the journalist is timidly avoiding is "Where have all the competent Music Journalists gone?" (I avoid adding "great", because that would be expecting far too much.)

[ahinton]

Have I missed something here, or is the author of this non-article saying that a composer needs to be great (whatever that means) and greatness is measured by how recognisable they are in restaurants and ATM queues? Are we then to turn to his/her music, to add another dimension to the discussion?

Some composers wouldn't be recognised in ATM queues because they wouldn't be there as they have insufficient funds from their work to draw from the ATMs...

[cloughie]

The real question that the journalist is timidly avoiding is "Where have all the competent Music Journalists gone?" (I avoid adding "great", because that would be expecting far too much.)

The quick answer is that a few have 'gone' in the last few years but history will probably show that there are a number busying themselves on Sibelius working on becoming great!

[Bryn]

No names, no pack drill, but there is at least one I would place in the company of Britten, Tippett and Birtwistle who contributes to this very forum.

[Serial_Apologist]

Some composers wouldn't be recognised in ATM queues because they wouldn't be there as they have insufficient funds from their work to draw from the ATMs...

And royalty don't use cash, in any case.

[Serial_Apologist]

The quick answer is that a few have 'gone' in the last few years but history will probably show that there are a number busying themselves on Sibelius working on becoming great!

It's too late for Sibelius.

(I know, I know!)

[cloughie]

It's too late for Sibelius.

(I know, I know!)

Certainly for l'eight

[Stanfordian]

My vote is for the Russian born, Munich based Rodion Shchedrin who is aged 84 now. I have a substantial collection of his output and I've been enjoying his comic opera 'The Left-Hander' on Blu-ray; one of his most recent works.

For those new to Shchedrin I recommend:
Concerto for orchestra No. 1 'Naughty Limericks'
Concerto for orchestra No. 3 'Old Russian Circus Music'
'The Sealed Angel' Russian liturgy for mixed chorus a cappella with shepherd's pipe
Carmen Suite, ballet in one act

[edashtav]

Is the arch-conservative Shchedrin the Stanford of our times, Stanfordian?

[ahinton]

And royalty don't use cash, in any case.

Sure, but to composers, royalties are cash (or at least money in the bank) whereas, to others, "royalty" in UK signifies the monrach and her family - and none of them compose, do they? Elizabeth is no Maconchy, William's no Walton, Harry's no Birtwistle and Charles not even a Stanford, let alone a Gounod, a Widor or a Kœchlin...