Most innovative composer

[Guest]

According to today's Daily Telegraph, scientists in South Korea have used a computer to work out who the most innovative composers have been. Their definition of innovation involves the use of harmonies, melodies and influence on other composers. They are, in order:

1 Rachmaninov
2 Bach
3 Brahms
4 Mendelssohn
5 Chopin
6 Schumann
7 Ravel
8 Handel
9 Albeniz
10 Liszt
11 Schubert
12 Scarlatti
13 Debussy
14 Beethoven
15 Mussorgsky
16 Tchaikovsky
17 Mozart
18 Haydn
19 Clementi

[Pulcinella]

Very simplistic analysis, according to Richard Morrison in today's Times.

Only piano music considered, apparently!
Also based solely on chordal progressions, not rhythms etc.

[Serial_Apologist]

According to today's Daily Telegraph, scientists in South Korea have used a computer to work out who the most innovative composers have been. Their definition of innovation involves the use of harmonies, melodies and influence on other composers. They are, in order:

1 Rachmaninov
2 Bach
3 Brahms
4 Mendelssohn
5 Chopin
6 Schumann
7 Ravel
8 Handel
9 Albeniz
10 Liszt
11 Schubert
12 Scarlatti
13 Debussy
14 Beethoven
15 Mussorgsky
16 Tchaikovsky
17 Mozart
18 Haydn
19 Clementi

I certainly wouldn't have placed Rach as the most innovative! Nor Bach or Brahms respectively at nos 2 and 3, though I could describe them as the great summators (?) of the musical trends that led up to them. If this thread's an invitation to supply our own suggestions, I'm up for it.

[Richard Barrett]

scientists in South Korea have used a computer

Those "computers" will never catch on.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

What about Mnog - the Stone Age genius who was the first to supplement her singing with stamping her feet on the ground? After her, everything else was just derivative.

[pastoralguy]

No one from the Second Viennese School?

[pastoralguy]

Love or loath them, John Cage and Stockhausen were pretty revolutionary.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I suspect the shortlist only had 20 names. Otherwise it's a crazy list.

[LMcD]

I certainly wouldn't have placed Rach as the most innovative! Nor Bach or Brahms respectively at nos 2 and 3, though I could describe them as the great summators (?) of the musical trends that led up to them. If this thread's an invitation to supply our own suggestions, I'm up for it.

What did Beethoven ever do for the piano sonata?

[pastoralguy]

And Haydn is only No.18?!

Didn't he virtually invent the symphony and string quartet?

[LMcD]

And Haydn is only No.18?!

Didn't he virtually invent the symphony and string quartet?

Quite - but see #2.
Perhaps somebody should produce a list of the most pointless lists.

[Richard Tarleton]

Luís de Narváez?

(first published example of variations, or "diferencias", AFAIK, in 1538)

[Edgy 2]

What did Beethoven ever do for the piano sonata?

He even invented jazz in Op 111 didn’t he ?

If the list is solely based on piano music where the hell is Alkan?

[Felix the Gnat]

No mention of the unmentionable Rolf Harris who revolutionised real time electronics performance.

[Ein Heldenleben]

There’s a piece in the Times about it . It’s based on piano music and chord progressions . So good for Rach and bad for Haydn