What Composers Would You Blindly Trust?

[Febnyc]

We are filling up a thread about music we don't like. Well, how about looking at the other side of that coin and thinking about composers whose music we would trust blindly - in other words that we know we'll enjoy anything from their pen?

I would start with a meager few:

Haydn - always a source of happiness and brightness to me, no matter symphonies, chamber music, choral, concertos, etc;

Sibelius - his symphonies are some of my favorite works and just about everything else I've heard is appealing in one way or another;

Dvořák - for the same reasons;

Schubert - especially the piano music, but not exclusively;

And I'll toss in an obscurity - Igor Raykhelson - contemporary composer whose upbeat and jazz-influenced works are brilliant. I buy CDs of his music without hearing in advance.

So many more.

Who, if anyone, do you trust blindly?

[maestrob]

Excellent topic, thanks!

Brahms
Rachmaninoff
Prokofiev
Handel
J. S. Bach (of course!)
Tchaikovsky
Copland (except his experiments in serialism)

Just off the top of my head....

[Rach3]

Ravel
Rachmaninoff
Puccini, probably
Mompou

[Belle]

Bach
Beethoven
Brahms
Monteverdi
Purcell
Ravel
Handel
Rameau

[barney]

1: Mozart
2: Mozart
3: Mozart
4: Bach
5: Schubert
6: Beethoven
7: Brahms
8: Verdi
9: Bellini
10: Mahler
11: Haydn
Most Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Schumann, Liszt, Puccini, Donizetti, - well, I could go on for a while. I am surprised that no one else has mentioned Mozart.

[Belle]

I am surprised that no one else has mentioned Mozart.

I guess they all realize that too much sugar is bad for the health!!

[Lance]

Blindly? Not necessarily in order:

Schumann [my desert island piano composer) but for almost anything
Schubert
Mozart
Beethoven
Chopin
Brahms
Rossini
The Bachs
Handel
Vivaldi
Verdi
Grieg
Hummel
Mendelssohn
Dvorak
Haydn
Rachmaninoff
Paganini
... after all I think we know what we are getting, even if we don't know the composer's entire repertoire, we will know what to expect because we like it! More could be added. But if one is steeped in Classicism or Romanticism, that about covers it!
Of the latest composers:
Jenkins [more and more]

[Febnyc]

Thanks for the responses - and there seems to be more or less a consensus on "trusted" composers. Not surprising...

[Febnyc]

We should include Rossini, no?

First of all, today's his birthday (leap year baby).

Secondly, besides his huge output of ebullient operas (never a dull moment in them), there are: his bubbling String Sonatas (written at the age of 12!); the piano pieces and the sacred music I know - Petite Messe Solonelle, Messa Di Gloria, Stabat Mater.

A composer to trust.

[barney]

Yes, I should have mentioned Rossini (and Chopin). That's the problem with a list like this: as soon as I've written something I regret it.

[Lance]

Well, ROSSINI appeared on MY list!

[lennygoran]

We should include Rossini, no?

Frank definitely and his friend Donizetti! Regards, Len

[Febnyc]

Well, ROSSINI appeared on MY list!

Oops - mea culpa.

[Febnyc]

We should include Rossini, no?

Frank definitely and his friend Donizetti! Regards, Len

You're right - not one without the other.

[Febnyc]

Yes, I should have mentioned Rossini (and Chopin). That's the problem with a list like this: as soon as I've written something I regret it.

Exactly - lists are sort of useless and boring. When I started this topic I presumed there would be some discussion as to why rather than simply lists of names - but that is inevitable.

[Lance]

Yeah - we probably could do that, although I did add a statement at the conclusion of my list. Perhaps the subject is too deep to expound. But on a cold, wet Northeast USA night, it might be good to take the time to explain our reasons. Love your ideas and thoughts nonetheless!

Yes, I should have mentioned Rossini (and Chopin). That's the problem with a list like this: as soon as I've written something I regret it.

Exactly - lists are sort of useless and boring. When I started this topic I presumed there would be some discussion as to why rather than simply lists of names - but that is inevitable.

[Ricordanza]

I'm late to this thread because it took me some time to narrow down the list of composers who never disappoint me. I came up with three:

Beethoven
Chopin
Dvorak

Obviously, this doesn't mean that I dislike all the other composers. Bach's Goldberg Variations is one of the greatest works ever written. Most of Schumann's piano music are among my favorites. The Liszt Sonata in B Minor is a towering masterpiece, as are many of the pieces in the Years of Pilgrimage. I love most of Mozart post K. 400, and many earlier works (like the Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola). Most of the Mahler symphonies are superb. My favorite Brahms symphony is the last one I heard. I could go on and on, but in trying to stay within the bounds of the question, I have never heard a work by these three that I didn't either like or love.

[maestrob]

I'm late to this thread because it took me some time to narrow down the list of composers who never disappoint me. I came up with three:

Beethoven
Chopin
Dvorak

Obviously, this doesn't mean that I dislike all the other composers. Bach's Goldberg Variations is one of the greatest works ever written. Most of Schumann's piano music are among my favorites. The Liszt Sonata in B Minor is a towering masterpiece, as are many of the pieces in the Years of Pilgrimage. I love most of Mozart post K. 400, and many earlier works (like the Sinfonia Concertante for violin and viola). Most of the Mahler symphonies are superb. My favorite Brahms symphony is the last one I heard. I could go on and on, but in trying to stay within the bounds of the question, I have never heard a work by these three that I didn't either like or love.

A very thoughtful post, Hank, thanks. If I may, I wonder about Brahms not being on that list. Is there a specific work of his that doesn't quite live up to your expectations? I'm fond of the early piano sonatas (I & II) as well as the 3 String Quartets, but I rarely choose to hear them.

[diegobueno]

I generally don't trust composers blindly. They all have their weak moments. But Haydn is, I think the most consistently high-quality composer you could ever hope to find. Blind trust means that you may not know the piece you're about to listen to but you know it's going to be something good, and I think Haydn always delivers.

Haydn and Stravinsky are my official "favorite composers". I would trust Stravinsky blindly except I already know what all of his music sounds like. Haydn, on the other hand, has tons of music that I will never ever listen to in a million years. You think I'm going to plow through all those baryton trios? All those Scottish folk song arrangements? No way! But I'm sure I could pick out one thing from among them and enjoy it.

[Ricordanza]

A very thoughtful post, Hank, thanks. If I may, I wonder about Brahms not being on that list. Is there a specific work of his that doesn't quite live up to your expectations? I'm fond of the early piano sonatas (I & II) as well as the 3 String Quartets, but I rarely choose to hear them.

Now that you mention it, I'm not a fan of the early piano sonatas, nor the Serenades. I find some of the piano pieces in Op. 116 less than inspiring. That being said, there is so much of Brahms that I do enjoy that he would be on my list of favorite composers.

[Lance]

Brian mentions Brahms' Piano Sonatas Nos. 1 and 2: No. 1 is an absolute favorite of mine. I wish more people would play it in concert, but it is generally No. 3, Op. 5 that gets the spotlight. Also, I was impressed with Serenade No. 1 and the scope of it, but less so with No. 2. The Serenades don't seem to be performed very often publicly.

[Lance]

Haydn/Stravinsky — that's quite a contrast! I love Haydn, too, and like you, couldn't get through all the baryton material though I plowed through those folk song arrangements (though not frequently unless it was one of the more extraordinary singers).

Haydn and Stravinsky are my official "favorite composers". I would trust Stravinsky blindly except I already know what all of his music sounds like. Haydn, on the other hand, has tons of music that I will never ever listen to in a million years. You think I'm going to plow through all those baryton trios? All those Scottish folk song arrangements? No way! But I'm sure I could pick out one thing from among them and enjoy it.

[diegobueno]

Haydn/Stravinsky — that's quite a contrast!

I find the two of them have quite a lot in common. Their music is logical and often witty (I'm thinking of the neoclassical Stravinsky, of the Dumbarton Oaks Concerto or the Octet). They're both "comfort food" music to my ears.

[barney]

Haydn/Stravinsky — that's quite a contrast!

I find the two of them have quite a lot in common. Their music is logical and often witty (I'm thinking of the neoclassical Stravinsky, of the Dumbarton Oaks Concerto or the Octet). They're both "comfort food" music to my ears.

I listened to Dumbarton Oaks again just a week ago. I know exactly what you mean.

[cliftwood]

Bach..of course at the top of my list

Chopin
Beethoven
Mahler
Schumann
Shostakovich
Tchaikovsky
Brahms
Puccini
Albinez...Iberia a masterpiece
Liszt..B minor Sonata
Scarlatti

Schubert,Haydn,Mozart.Handel, Verdi .my apologies for the exclusion