Astor Piazzolla : a great composer for all times?

Caballe, I didn't labelled Piazzolla as a great composer. There is already a question mark there, inviting views about the opposite, provided that they are developed and they are not mere opinions of an inexplicable taste. Greatness is not needed to give any validity to just any composer of anytime; it is needed to reward those who contributed more than others to the development of the Classical Music. So, it's your prerogative to dislike or even detest Beethoven, but you have to recognise his role and significance in the field.

Parla,

I acknowledge there is a question mark in the subject. I suppose I should ask you now that you have had several responses if you regard Piazzolla as worthy to join the ranks of what are generally regarded as great composers. I would be surprised if you do however much you express support for the quality of his music. I have listened to various compositions by this composer over the years on radio broadcasts and have three works of his on disc. The longest work I have by him is his so called tango opera, Maria de Buenos Aires. It is certainly an unusual piece of work in the field of opera, if it can be regarded as such, and some of it is approachable and appealing. Although it is not inordinately long, repeated listening reveals considerable purple passages if you are familiar with that phrase. My initial enthusiasm for the piece wanes somewhat after about forty five minutes as I don't think Piazzolla's unique sound world maintains interest. There is only so much tango rhythm one can take in one listening session I think. I feel the same about other pieces I have heard by him.

On to your next comment. How does one reward a composer who has contributed more than others to the development of classical music when the majority of them have long since departed from this mortal coil? Their names may be remembered and their work performed and revered long after they are gone. Their descendants may benefit financially and in other ways but we can never know for certain what the deceased composers reward is. Even if there is a different state of conciousness after death we won't know until or unless we experience it for ourselves if our previous mortality has any relevance.

As for Beethoven, I have the highest regard for his Piano Concerto No 5, Moonlight & Pathetique sonatas and Symphonies 3, 5, 7 & 9. Many other compositions by him bore me rigid I'm afraid and I have by no means heard anything approaching his complete output. For sure, the same is true of other composers and I can't count the number of times I have heard or read the same thing said about Brahms. Life is short enough and I would rather spend it listening to what I enjoy now I am in my sixth decade. That does not mean I have stopped seeking out new music to listen to as like you and other forum members, I know I spend more than I should on acquiring recordings old and new. I realise as collectors of recorded music we all struggle to maintain a proportionate balance in listening to tried and tested favourites and new recordings of familiar and unfamiliar works.

Oh dear Parla!  Now I am confused.  Have you missed my irony or am I missing yours?

To be absolutely clear, I believe the criticism you are attracting here is entirely justified, and for the reasons your critics state, and as I have stated elsewhere - on too many occasions to count!   While I admire your passion for the subject, your seeming obsessive and blinkered absolutism feels more appropriate to fundamentalist religion than to the art of music.  In the kind of exchanges we are having here it is difficult to avoid the personal sometimes, and I am sure that in real life you are a good and warm man.  But whether from personal, cultural or linguistic reasons, you come across exactly as CraigM states elsewhere.  It might appear arrogant of me to say so but I really think you should give serious consideration to how you are perceived and that all criticism cannot be a misunderstanding of your position.

I will quote once again the wonderful Jacob Bronowski (who was himself quoting from Cromwell): "I beseech you in the bowels of Christ, consider it possible you may be mistaken".  

"Consider it possible".

Vic.

Is that a reference to always getting the last laugh?

I like to feel the tense is more present than past.

I fail to see anything offensive in my postcard humour, but if I have offended, I apologise to all followers of the Church of the Latterday Greats.

Well, that's good, anyway...

I don't know if this point has been made already - there is so much on this thread - but Piazzolla is not a great composer but a folk musician in the line of Joan Baez or Bob Dylan and no sensible person would think of measuring them against Sibelius or Mahler, any more than a promoter would have put Stan Laurel in the ring to fight Joe Louis.