Greatest Composers of All Time

Anthony Tommasini, music critic of the New York Times did a comprehensive series a few years back with plenty of feedback from his readers. A bit different result, his list

10 - Bartok
9 - Wagner
8- Verdi
7 - Brahams
6 - Stravinsky
5 - Debussey
4 - Schubert
3 - Mozart
2 - Beethoven
1 - Bach

I couldn't argue with the top 5 being on any top 10 list but there could be sufficient debate over 6-10. Below the top 3 it shouldn't be "greatest" but "favorite".

I'm a big Rachmaninov and Chopin fan but I've NEVER seen either in a top 10 list of greatest. Chopin is special in his unique genuis with solo piano music. Neither wrote in a variety of different genres, limiting their relevance in the grand scheme of things.

Agree with you Learsfool regarding Liszt

My favorite or greatest list, mostly based on their range of compositions for what its worth. 4-10 could be swapped around.
1 - Bach
2 - Mozart
3 - Beethoven
4 - Brahams
5 - Schubert
6 - Debussey
7 - Tchaikovsky (I can't believe it either Arh)
8 - Stravinsky
9 - Wagner
10 - Prokofiev (just me I suppose, but I love the unpredicable nature of his music, you never know where its going, very exciting to listen to, particularly his 3rd Piano Concerto)

"I'm going to stay out of rating composers, I'll just listen to their work and be thankful for it."

Well said Rcprince, couldn't agree with you more. My "rating" is more like my favorites based on current listening, subject to change at any given time. There is so much to discover and enjoy.

I really hope this doesn't get sidetracked into the motivations of "audiophiles". It would be just great to share and turn on the uninitiated to some of the greatest art man has created.

"Beethoven's Romanticism is often greatly exaggerated - formally speaking, he is a Classical composer through and through."

Agree Learsfool but stylistically his symphonies transcended the classical era and are strongly influenced by what was going on around him socially and politically, the 5th is the quinessential example of his romantic inclinations. There is none of this with the symphonies or music, for that matter, of Hayden and Mozart. So in that respect he is the composer that is primarily responsible for introducing the Romantic era, unless there is another composer that I am unaware of that you may be. I am aware of your formidable knowledge of music and look forward to your response.

Learsfool thanks for your throughful response. Maybe I am reading more into Beethoven's 5th. While the opening motif develops the theme, it is the context of the development of the subsequent movements, the darkness and shadow of the opening movement to the final sense of optimism, triumph if you will in the final movement and I was speaking in that context of Beethoven's romanticism. Wonder what he was thinking when he wrote it. I never get any of that sense when listening to the symphonies of Hayden or Mozart, just the typical structure of classical form and of course what I consider one of the greatest classical era symphonies, the 41st "Jupiter" which encompasses the counterpoint elements of the baroque in the final movement and about every element of classical form at the very highest level, unsurpassed IMHO. I suppose I need to get into Greenberg's lectures for a more thorough education in this subject because it certainly is a fascinating development in Western music, from the Classical era to the Romantic, so much seemingly influenced by Beethoven. Thanks again for making me realize this :)

Well Audiozen, if you are referring to Beethoven's Piano Concertos vs Mozarts' piano concertos I'm not too sure I'm with you on that one. Yes, Beethoven's 5 concertos are all masterpieces but are they readily acknowledged as besting Mozart's last 10 say? Not to my ears, they're all great and memorable pieces in their own right. Interestingly listening to Beethoven's first you might well believe you are listening to Mozart, so obvious is his influence.

I DO agree with you concerning the Emperor it is indeed majestic!