Which country has produce the best classical music?

[Sikander]

I'm torn personally between the Russians and the Germans. Of the Russians I particularly enjoy Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. I like the emotional charge of the Russians, and really the Slavs generally.

My two favorite German composers are Beethoven and Wagner. Unlike some of their countrymen they display a lot of raw emotional power. I like some Bach, but not enough to rate him as a favorite. I prefer Beethoven's storminess and Wagner's soaring mania.

Who am I neglecting? Nominations for other countries and artists are welcome. As things are slow on OT these days comments on the relative merits of Main Battle Tanks are also acceptable.

[molly bloom]

Re: Which country has produce the best classical music?

Originally posted by Sikander


Who am I neglecting?

Depends on what you're interested in.


As a big fan of choral music (and an ex-choirboy) I have to mention the Tudor English composers such as William Byrd, Thomas Tallis, Christopher Tye, John Taverner et al. English choral music (and English composers and musicians) were famous across all Europe.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000064AT/102-7165807-6620129?v=glance&n=5174

Earlier composers I'd mention would be people from the Low Countries and Franco-Burgndians such as Ockeghem, Obrecht, Josquin Desprez, Orlando di Lasso, Guillaume Dufay and Guillaume de Machaut.


Carlo Gesualdo has plenty of emotional power but is similar in some respects to much 20th Century music in his use of chromaticism to express feeling. He did after all catch his wife and her lover in flagrante and kill them, publicly exposing their bodies...

[Ecthy]

Is this supposed to be a joke? What are Tchaikovsky, Chopin and Smetana compared to the rest?

(all German)

[Saras]

Challenger II pwns M1A2 Abrams.

[Ecthy]

Guess this classical music thread with file names!!

[Sikander]

Wow Molly, 8 disks for $30! That's a good deal.

[SlowwHand]

You leave out Italians, such as Niccolò Piccinni.

[Skanky Burns]

France puts in a decent showing with Georges Bizet.

[Sikander]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
You leave out Italians, such as Niccolò Piccinni.

Meh, he only wrote 80 (!) operas.

[Cort Haus]

Re: Which country has produce the best classical music?

Originally posted by Sikander
I'm torn personally between the Russians and the Germans. Of the Russians I particularly enjoy Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky. I like the emotional charge of the Russians, and really the Slavs generally.

My two favorite German composers are Beethoven and Wagner. Unlike some of their countrymen they display a lot of raw emotional power. I like some Bach, but not enough to rate him as a favorite. I prefer Beethoven's storminess and Wagner's soaring mania.

I'm with the Russians & Slavs. Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky and Tchaikovsky rock. I love a bit of Bach for some serious noodling (no-one told that guy that less is more) but the passion of the Slavs (add Dvorak and Smetana to the above) gets me in the heart.

Unlike Molly, I prefer my Classical music sans vocals, but each to their own.

My favourite restaurant is a Russian, with a violin player doing classical and folk / Jewish music. Live music & good food.

[SlowwHand]

He wrote over 100 in Italian alone, not to mention French and then became a professor.

Ok. Russia or Germany then. Germany.

[Jon Miller]

I first think of Russia and Germany also..

JM

[SpencerH]

Japan. There's nothing like the rapid fire riffs of Nogaku during Noh Theatre.

[Ninot]

Canada

I'm not sure we've produced any, but I like Canada

[SlowwHand]

Typical Canadian remark.