12 Top Piano Composers

[Lance]

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

[Chalkperson]

Bach
Beethoven
Schubert
Chopin
Liszt
Mozart
Feldman
Haydn
Shostakovich
Rachmaninov
Debussy
Ravel

Something like that...

[jbuck919]

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Lance, I hope you're willing to take responsibility for Jack Kelso's death from apoplexy.

Schumann's absence from the list is scandalous, of course. Most people who use more artistic criteria than "number of occurrences of each piano composer in web pages," etc. would put Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin in the first three slots with what comes after somewhat less clear. Gershwin does not belong on the list at all, but Debussy most certainly does, and high up. Other than those problems, which are pretty glaring, it is remarkable how many deserving composers are on the list, given the criteria.

[Wallingford]

Speaking as a fellow keyboardist, I say the official list's AOK!

[piston]

Poland: Chopin (without a doubt)
USA: Gershwin
France: Debussy (over Ravel)
All Scandinavia: Grieg
Spain: Albeniz
Hungary: Bartok (over Liszt)
Russia (very tough!): Prokofiev, I guess (sigh!)
Germania: Beethoven, first; Bach, second; Mozart, third.
How about Italy?

[Jack Kelso]

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Lance, I hope you're willing to take responsibility for Jack Kelso's death from apoplexy.

Schumann's absence from the list is scandalous, of course. Most people who use more artistic criteria than "number of occurrences of each piano composer in web pages," etc. would put Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin in the first three slots with what comes after somewhat less clear. Gershwin does not belong on the list at all, but Debussy most certainly does, and high up. Other than those problems, which are pretty glaring, it is remarkable how many deserving composers are on the list, given the criteria.

You're right, John. Must have been made by folks who have no concept of the piano repertoire. Haydn and Grieg above Debussy?!? Any serious concert pianist would include Schumann anywhere from no. 1 to no. 3 or 4.

That list is the equivalent of leaving off Mozart from a list of chamber music masters....or placing Telemann ahead of Handel as an opera composer.....

Tschüß,
Jack

[Lance]

Yes, I know, I know. On another similar thread, I said I almost DIDN'T show these lists, however, perhaps we all need some good "laffs" from time-to-time. And yes, John, the absence of Schumann is ridiculous. Take these particular Top Dozen lists halfheartedly.

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Lance, I hope you're willing to take responsibility for Jack Kelso's death from apoplexy.

Schumann's absence from the list is scandalous, of course. Most people who use more artistic criteria than "number of occurrences of each piano composer in web pages," etc. would put Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin in the first three slots with what comes after somewhat less clear. Gershwin does not belong on the list at all, but Debussy most certainly does, and high up. Other than those problems, which are pretty glaring, it is remarkable how many deserving composers are on the list, given the criteria.

[some guy]

The twelve Lance has mentioned and all the others that other posters have mentioned are all good composers who have written good pieces for piano.

Why all these people have to be ranked and why twelve have to be separated out from the others and designated to be "top" is something I do not understand.

Here are a few more composers who have written good pieces for piano, in no order:

Walter Marchetti
John Cage
Karlheinz Stockhausen
Pierre Boulez
Charles Ives
Simeon Ten Holt
Daniel Lenz
Tom Johnson
Christian Woolf
Salvatore Sciarrino
Frederick Rzewski

[Jack Kelso]

Yes, I know, I know. On another similar thread, I said I almost DIDN'T show these lists, however, perhaps we all need some good "laffs" from time-to-time. And yes, John, the absence of Schumann is ridiculous. Take these particular Top Dozen lists halfheartedly.

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Lance, I hope you're willing to take responsibility for Jack Kelso's death from apoplexy.

Schumann's absence from the list is scandalous, of course. Most people who use more artistic criteria than "number of occurrences of each piano composer in web pages," etc. would put Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin in the first three slots with what comes after somewhat less clear. Gershwin does not belong on the list at all, but Debussy most certainly does, and high up. Other than those problems, which are pretty glaring, it is remarkable how many deserving composers are on the list, given the criteria.

Well, I AM relieved to hear that whatever criteria were used---originality, melodic invention, rhythmic drive, harmonic power and depth of expression were apparently NOT included.

Hey, Lance! Did it occur to you that perhaps---only perhaps---the list stems from Chalkie!? (Using an alias, natch!).

Tschüß,
Jack

[Chalkperson]

Hey, Lance! Did it occur to you that perhaps---only perhaps---the list stems from Chalkie!? (Using an alias, natch!).

Tschüß,
Jack

No Jack, it's not from me, but, it does show quite a universal indifference to Schumann's shoddy output...

[Jared]

my initial reacion was... how come no Schumann...

and why is Gershwin so high? must be an American list... he scarcely gets a look in over here...

[Seán]

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

I'm not an expert on this matter at all. I am surprised though that Debussy is not on the list, perhaps it's ignorence on my part to expect him to rank in the "top twelve". I love his solo piano work though and this list will not influence me one way or another.

[jbuck919]

Poland: Chopin (without a doubt)
USA: Gershwin
France: Debussy (over Ravel)
All Scandinavia: Grieg
Spain: Albeniz
Hungary: Bartok (over Liszt)
Russia (very tough!): Prokofiev, I guess (sigh!)
Germania: Beethoven, first; Bach, second; Mozart, third.
How about Italy?

That's one way to get around the Gershwin problem, the Grieg problem, etc.

If you allow Bach, then you can allow Scarlatti, and that takes care of Italy.

[John F]

With a pointer from Lance, I've found out as much as I could about where these lists come from and what they are. Comments posted in the 12 Top Recorded PIANISTS thread.

http://www.classicalmusicguide.com/view ... 10&t=37410

[karlhenning]

This is a ranking list of piano composers. Only top dozen Best Piano Composers, according to different criteria, are presented. The ranking is in particular based on the number of occurences of each piano composer in web pages, news, pictures and people votes in corresponding context. How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Well, if the ranking is based on number of occurences in web pages, news, pictures and people votes . . . the list has already cantered off any path of ranking them as composers for the piano. However well one may like his music, Gershwin is absurdly high there. Shostakovich ranking above Liszt as a composer for the piano puzzles me (highly as I do regard the Opus 87).

Cheers,
~Karl

[karlhenning]

How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Personally, the omissions from this list which enrage me are: Rakhmaninov & Prokofiev.

Grieg & Gershwin are on that last, but Rakhmaninov & Prokofiev are not? Patently ridiculous.

Cheers,
~Karl

[Wallingford]

I'll recant just a tad:

No SCOTT JOPLIN?!!@*

[Jack Kelso]

How does this lineup rate with YOUR thoughts on the subject?

Rank Score Composer

1. 540 Ludwig van Beethoven
2. 472 George Gershwin
3. 248 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
4. 216 Frederic Chopin
5. 214 Johannes Brahms
6. 198 Franz Schubert
7. 181 Felix Mendelssohn
8. 181 Dmitri Shostakovich
9. 174 Franz Liszt
10. 158 Joseph Haydn
11. 150 Maurice Ravel
12. 147 Edvard Grieg

Personally, the omissions from this list which enrage me are: Rakhmaninov & Prokofiev.

Grieg & Gershwin are on that last, but Rakhmaninov & Prokofiev are not? Patently ridiculous.

Cheers,
~Karl

This time we agree, Karl. Not only Schumann and Debussy are left out, but also Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev! And what about Scriabin?!? Such a listing is even less than a joke.

Tschüß,
Jack

[Jack Kelso]

Hey, Lance! Did it occur to you that perhaps---only perhaps---the list stems from Chalkie!? (Using an alias, natch!).

Tschüß,
Jack

No Jack, it's not from me, but, it does show quite a universal indifference to Schumann's shoddy output...

Hey, Chalkie! How do you expect to win the coveted "Stan and Ollie" award without help from your old buddy, Karl?

Tschüß,
Jack

[piston]

Concerning Gershwin, I think his popularity is a function of his mass appeal, however defined. After all, his Rhapsody in Blue was by far the most frequently recorded work by a US composer thirty years ago and probably remains so today. Over 72 different recordings of the Rhapsody are listed in the 1982 discography of Carol Oja. By comparison, Barber's adagio had 25 recordings and Copland's Appalachian Suite had 19 recordings. Not even close!

[Chalkperson]

Hey, Chalkie! How do you expect to win the coveted "Stan and Ollie" award without help from your old buddy, Karl?

Tschüß,
Jack

Whilst I hold Maestro Henning's opinion in high regard, we are not a double act, if we appear to be then you are indeed mistaken...you can think of me as Buster Keaton if you like, I'd go for Chaplin but I am not (yet) in his league...

[premont]

If you allow Bach, then you can allow Scarlatti, and that takes care of Italy.

If you allow Bach the title of the thread should have been: 12 top keyboard composers.

[Wallingford]

As for the omission of Bach & Scarlatti, I'd have to say the harpsichordists long since marked their territory there.

Haydn & Mozart just made it under the wire to the good side.

[Chalkperson]

As for the omission of Bach & Scarlatti, I'd have to say the harpsichordists long since marked their territory there.

Haydn & Mozart just made it under the wire to the good side.

But, Bach knew that the Grand Piano would be coming in a couple of hundred years (on his walk back from visiting Buxtehude he had a vision of someone called Steinway) and took that into account when composing "keyboard" music, so he definitely gets my number one slot...

[Steinway]

Any such list that excludes Schumann and Bach is a list not taking too seriously.

I really get bent out of shape when I see these threads about who are the "greatest" anything.

Questions like whose Barcarolle you prefer? above all others are fine. Not scientific but emotional reponses required.

[karlhenning]

Any such list that excludes Schumann and Bach is a list not taking too seriously. :x

. . . except that Bach didn't write for a piano, of course : )

Good to see you, cliftwood!

Cheers,
~Karl

[ChamberNut]

My favorite composers for piano works currently, are:

Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Mozart and Schumann

after those four:

Bach, Chopin, Tchaikovsky

[karlhenning]

Ray! I cannot believe that Chopin is not in the Top Five! : )

Cheers,
~Karl

[Jack Kelso]

Ray! I cannot believe that Chopin is not in the Top Five! : )

Cheers,
~Karl

Hmm. Simple. Extract Brahms----insert Chopin.

Tschüß,
Jack

[ChamberNut]

Ray! I cannot believe that Chopin is not in the Top Five! : )

Cheers,
~Karl

He's just not for me. I do like Chopin's music, I just don't love it. I'd much rather listen to Brahms or Beethoven.

[Wallingford]

Nice this thread was revived: I wanted to bring up a very relevant point in regards to the "questionable" selection above. Each of these men (Gershwin, somewhat possibly, excepted) wrote considerable quantities of music for the amateur, quantities quite rivaling or even surpassing those for the professional virtuoso. Something's definitely in their favor, as per their thoughtfulness towards this humongeous camp of eager players.