Who do you think is the greatest composer of all time?

There are so many great composers over the years it is hard to choose one. What do you guys/gals think? My vote would have to go to Mozart, but some others are right on his behind!

Hans Zimmer, hands down.

My vote is for Mozart.

Trent Reznor.

Hans. He made this after all.

[spoiler] Okay not the best ever, but he's my favorite. Next to Mozart. [/spoiler]

Jeff van Dyke

Mozart. Beethoven close second.

I don't like much of Beethoven's stuff, it's too long and repetitive, Bach is where it's at.

For more contemporary stuff I really like Vaclav Nelhybel, Johan De Meij, and David Maslanka.

bach.

i'd never had a braingasm before...

BBM (Beethoven, Bach, Mozart. They are all tied)

As for favorite...Dmitri Shostakovich, who is near the top of the list.

As for the worst composer of all time......PDQ Bach

tchaikovsky or wagner

All pretty good composers. I always thought Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky were some of the greatest.I will also look some of the other names I am not familiar with on the ole youtube tomorrow.

Chopin.

A bit at a disadvantage when it comes to sounding "epic" like other composers due to almost all of his compositions being solo piano, but his stuff has impressive emotional depth, and is a joy to learn how to play.

for me it's either Beethoven or Bizet

The Three Bs (Brahms) and Mozart. There are many more composers (Chopin for example) who I think have composed music just as good as any of these have, but I give these four the edge because of the sheer mastery they show in a variety of styles of classical music. There are probably composers of similar stature, like Haydn, who one could argue should be up there with them, but I haven't heard much of his/their music to really say. So I guess that really kind of defeats the whole purpose, as I can't really say without having listened to every composer out there (classical or not) who I think is the greatest, but unless Jesus himself has composed music, these four would still probably feature at the top of my list.

Mozart. Beethoven close second.

sonicare

^^ This.

I also am a huge fan of John Williams. Star Wars has to be his best work.

John Williams.

Johannes Brahms is my personal favourite all-round composer, but there's no one composer who was the "best" at everything. The most naturally gifted composers in my opinion were J.S. Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven, and Chopin.

This user called "pianist". Apparently he is Mozart and Beethoven's love child.... kulmiye

:lol:

I'm not THAT old.

[QUOTE="kulmiye"]This user called "pianist". Apparently he is Mozart and Beethoven's love child.... pianist

:lol:

I'm not THAT old.

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that, I don't listen to much classical, tend to only enjoy orchestra as part of a soundtrack or when your in the mood for something dramatic for personal listening.

You're not? You have shattered so many of my preconceived mental images. On topic. My band teacher in high school was in love with Bach. Beyond that my knowledge of who is the best composer is extremely lacking.Sunsha

I changed my avatar to young Brahms for a reason. :P

most people will say Beethoven or Mozart obviously

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that, I don't listen to much classical, tend to only enjoy orchestra as part of a soundtrack or when your in the mood for something dramatic for personal listening.

Evil_Saluki

Anyone who writes music is a composer - doesn't have to be from the cIassical tradition.

I changed my avatar to young Brahms for a reason. :Ppianist

Nonsense, you must be old and grey.Sunsha

My students haven't "gotten to me" yet. I estimate another couple of years...

My students haven't "gotten to me" yet. I estimate another couple of years...pianist

Heh... indeed they do. But this "job" isn't giving me any grief. Real work is a different story - three courses to plan that I've never taught before = way too much work for "summer break."

[QUOTE="Evil_Saluki"]

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that, I don't listen to much classical, tend to only enjoy orchestra as part of a soundtrack or when your in the mood for something dramatic for personal listening.

pianist

Anyone who writes music is a composer - doesn't have to be from the cIassical tradition.

Yeah but I would of thought the best composers must come from a classical background since it's one of the least compromising types of music. Very difficult to throw in flourishes and a missed note stands out like a soar thumb compared to say, Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing Scar Tissue live at Glastonbury.

If I was to chose my favorite composer then it's a different story, but i can't say it would be the best.

To be honest when someone says 'composer' classical is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Bach basically wrote the book on chord building and progression that the western world uses to this day, so I have to give him the honor.

Ludwig Van Beethoven.

The only classical composer I care for. But boy is he brilliant.

Hans Zimmer.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Igor Stravisnky is not the greatest composer of all time but does have a special place in my collection.

Jesper Kyd, he's the one who composed the music in AC:B, I hope he does the same in AC:R.

Beethoven, his already extremely impressive music is made even more impressive by the fact he wrote some of it deaf. Mozart, Bach, and Tchaikovsky are all quite good, but I think Beethoven comes out on top.

either philip glass or harold budd.

Oh gosh if I had to pick one I suppose I'd go with ol' J.S. Bach as he has always continued to surprise me by his tremendous range, but honestly it's splitting hairs between him and Beethoven, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Monteverdi and Mahler.

Jesper Kyd, he's the one who composed the music in AC:B, I hope he does the same in AC:R.

parkurtommo

Mozart or Beethoven

Hans Zimmer, hands down.

Mega-Mustaine

[QUOTE="parkurtommo"]

Jesper Kyd, he's the one who composed the music in AC:B, I hope he does the same in AC:R.

LordsLoss

With guys like Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Schubert, Haydn, and etc. in the line up, its hard not to pick someone classical for the title of greatest composer of all time :P. These guys afterall are both pioneers and highly influential figures within their trade. While I love many modern composers (especially Stravinsky) as well as video game composers such as Uematsu and Mitsuda, they fall a bit short (imo.) to Bach.

Concerto in Two Violins is quite possibly my favorite piece for studying (my life at this point pretty much) next to Canon in D Major (despite how overplayed it is at weddings).