Which composers of any period would you invite to dinner and why?

[Guest]

Maximum number of guests permitted - 4.

[Roehre]

Magister Perotinus, Sweelinck, Beethoven and Mahler.
One main question to all of them: why did they start composing.what inspired them?
Of these four only Sweelinck is known to have been a real entertaining raconteur, we don't know anything of Perotinus in that respect, Beethoven's and Mahler's contributions to the discussion were certainly depending on their moods.

[Resurrection Man]

Surely one should also decide at what particular period in their composing life ? I'm not sure what sort of conversation one would have had with a 4 year old Mozart! Intriguing thought, though.

[Lateralthinking1]

Yes. A good point. In a way, the thread is an opportunity to pick out the good guys - and women - from all the folk who have composed. That is not to say that people shouldn't choose for other reasons.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'd prefer it if Rossini invited me.

(I think he'd prefer it, too!)

[ardcarp]

Maximum number of guests permitted - 4

Oh. Can't I have Les Six ???

[Lateralthinking1]

Oh. Can't I have Les Six ???

I wouldn't normally look at all favourably on that sort of request but ok........as it is Christmas!

[Richard Tarleton]

John Dowland, to ask him about music at the courts of Queen Elizabeth, the King of Denmark and James 1, that plot, other dedicatees of his works, not to mention lute technique and tuning...

Gesualdo, a deeply fascinating and complex character who I'm sure would be a great dinner companion.

Hildegard of Bingen - I'd make sure she had plenty to drink...

Peter Maxwell-Davies, who I'm sure would help to liven things up.

[Bax-of-Delights]

Mussorgsky
Peter Warlock
Malcolm Arnold
E.J.Moeran

And then I'd stand outside and look through the window to see which slipped under the table first.

[Roehre]

I'd prefer it if Rossini invited me.

(I think he'd prefer it, too!)

And he himself preparing the meal, I suppose....

[Roehre]

Gesualdo, a deeply fascinating and complex character who I'm sure would be a great dinner companion..

We'd like to have you longer amongst us, Richard

[amateur51]

Surely one should also decide at what particular period in their composing life ? I'm not sure what sort of conversation one would have had with a 4 year old Mozart! Intriguing thought, though.

I'm sure you'd keep up, RM

[BBMmk2]

Mahler, Holst Bartok and RVW, just because it be interesting to find oiut aboiut folksong.

[Richard Tarleton]

We'd like to have you longer amongst us, Richard

I'd stay off the subject of his wife and hope Hildegard didn't say anything tactless when she'd had a few. Max might put his foot in it though.

[kernelbogey]

Oh. Can't I have Les Six ???

Couldn't you choose just quatre of them?
(with acknowledgements to Donald Macleod*).

Edit: * Rodney Milne, on reflection