Interesting Discussions

A lot of the young composers at Young Composers Music forum enjoy discussing their own views on the most influential composers of the past. Recently, one composer commented of Stravinsky that he wrote a few masterpieces and a whole lot of crap. I strongly disagreed with this. From my perspective, Stravinsky (along with Schoenberg, Ligeti, and perhaps Boulez/Stockhausen) was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. From all three of his periods, he produced amazingly original masterpieces that even today composers and musicians pour over and study. From Petrushka to The Flood, his works exemplify a unique sense of personal voice through various aesthetics of musical composition - almost unparalleled in other composers. That he was able to do this and create works that have become endearing to many listeners, musicians, and composers alike is astounding! Certainly, the influence alone is enough to ensure Stravinsky a spot in the top 5 most influential composers of all time!