Most important living composer.

OK, a quick medley, but if I'm doing all the actions you have to do them too.

Here we go.

I like to move it move it I like to move it move it I like to move it move it I like to move it. I'll tell you what I want what I really really want so tell me what you want what you really really want I'll tell you what i want what i really really want so tell me what you want what you really really want I'll tell you what I want what I really really want so tell me what you want what you really really want, I wanna I wanna I wanna zig a zig arrgh. ... If you want more of this just watch the Olympic games opening ceremony.

So, after all these rounds and rounds, I don't trace, even among the more "modern" and "open-minded" members, to reach any sort of agreement that there is the most important living composer, despite the very good effort of Ian to give an analytical advertising portrait of Mr. Adams. (However, I think he wanted to demonstrate the importance of this composer only for US, which is fair and apparently quite true).

Mark, thanks for your kind understanding of my position even with the label of "traditionalist". If it can make you feel better, I have not closed my ears (and my mind) to the contemporary composers. I listen and follow their paths and buy some of their most influential recordings. I simply cannot trace this "sparkle" and this "flame" of the prima vista greatness, something which is so obvious in most of the works of Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Stravinsky's Ballets, Britten and quite a few other 20th century composers.

Finally, a tip, Mark: I have noticed that most of the great composers of the last century started creating and even establishing their mark early and throughout their career. Shostakovich attracted quite early the best orchestras and conductors to perform his Symphonies, the best Russian Chamber Ensembles to premier his String Quartets, he collaborated and composed for the very best of the Russian soloists. The same, grosso modo, happened with Ravel, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, R. Strauss and so on. So, it's not a work "insignificant", if it is not "performed by the top four orchestras and do not sell in multiples". It simply indicates that either the work or the composer or both have not yet reached the...bar.

Best wishes for a bright weekend (full of the Olympic folly).

Parla

OK, We may not have agreed on who, if anyone, desrves the title of the most important living composer, but it has been an interesting and rewarding discussion with plenty of thought-provoking comments, and lots of ideas for summer listening.  

Time for a summer break for me now. Loaded my iPod with music from Bach (Leonhardt) to Messiaen and Boulez, via Bartok and Lutoslawski, not to mention Victoria and Monteverdi + the standards!

Thanks to you all! Have a great summer.  I'll be back (sorry!).

Chris

Uber:

Scaramouche, Scaramouche, can you do the fandango?
Thunderbolts and lightning very very frightening me!
Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo Galileo Figaro Magnifico-o-o-o

Well at least it was operatic and a rock classic! There are better lyrics than:

Come on rude bwoy bwoy...(expurgated version)

Mark- I'm singing the Rhianna louder by the way

I agree Arbutus with what you are saying there. It has been interesting, and hopefully will be one of those threads we can pick up on and go back to as and when...so thanks for the thought-provoking post!

I have a hunch that once we passed the millenium and found ourselves in a new century and epoch, that a lot of what appeared to be exciting and ground-breaking in the previous (ie 20th) century's music now started to appear conversely as failed experiments, but as I say that is only my own vague feeling.

The number of contemporary composers who are writing is healthy. Since I started to go back to the Proms in 2007 there have been numerous young composers featured, but I don't tend to feel as interested in keeping up with it all as I was 20 years ago, which I suppose says something...

Mind you, I have heard some good pieces; Knussen, StuartMacRae, Michael Berkeley, Pascal Dusapin and a few others. And then some I wasn't particularly keen on, like a Julian Anderson piece and one by James Dillon.

Regards

Mark

We here at Forum Ink wish to apologize unreservedly for the story which appeared here recently regarding the Mexican pupeteer and his beeg nite out...I mean his big night out. This story was completely erroneous and based on anecdotal exchanges overheard in the local tavern and has since been removed. We realise and accept responsibility for the distress caused to the Mexican pupeteer and his family. The journalist responsible has since been promoted...I mean spoken to. We wish to make it clear that the Mexican pupeteer is a man who welcomes cultural diversity and who would never describe French or any other food in adverse terms. Indeed, the promotion of global cultural diversity and understanding is one of the aims of his art. We also deny hacking into his mobile phone and infiltrating his e-mails. This was nothing to do with us but was in fact the work of another less ethical organisation. Finally we would also like to apologize for the story of the secret liaison between the pupeteer and the lead soprano before we go ahead and print it...