I hope that by doing this I may encourage the reader to seek out and enjoy their musics, and that it will give you a peek behind the scenes into the private world that I enjoy.
For me, one of the greatest melody makers of the 20th century. His music radiates a true ‘transparentness’ from the application of impressionistic harmony to his use of polyphonic structure. As a Swiss born composer his works also represent the crossroads where the schools of latin and german classical musical forms meet.
I particularly recommend; Symphonies 1-5, Prelude-Fugue-Postlude, Concerto pour violoncelle et orchestre, Concertino pour piano et orchestre, Jeane d'arc au Bûcher, Cantate de Nöel, Rugby, Pacific 231, Le Roi David
A composer of vitality and dynamism. His music is far from the typical japanese artists' microcosmic tendencies. He is most famous outside Japan as the composer of several Godzilla soundtrack, including the classic soundtrack of the original 1954 version. Ifukube's work is deeply inspired by the music of Japan's Ainu people, whom he lived with during his childhood.
Recommended works : Rhapsodia Concertante, Ritmica Ostinata, Sinfonia Tapkaara, Violin Concerto No.2
He used a modernistic Sound created from Advanced Orthodox Contrapuntal Technique. I respect that! His musics contained strong rhythms, sometimes also drawing upon intimate folkloric melodies.
Recommended works include; Sinfonietta, Symphonie no.2, Rapsodie Flamande, Concerto pour piano et orchestre
Dear Darius, how his music shows the brightness of the Mediterranean sun and the lush latin rhythms of his second home - brazil. He had a remarkable musical ability. His music also drew from the depths of his hebraic heritage or were soundscapes with a unique simple french-medieval-like feeling and quality. Milhaud was also a great friend of Eric Satie and he arranged the Satie orchestral masterpiece 'Jack in the box' after the lost score was discovered post Satie's death. The work is a particular favourite of mine as I feel it shows the charm of both composers.
Recommended works; String quartet no.9, Symphony no.1, "La Cheminée du Roi René", Petite Symhponies, Sonatine pour flûte et piano, Concertino de Printemps
A real revolutionary. He produced lovable so-called neo-classical works that were never fully given the accolade they deserved by the post WWII by those supposed to know about avant-garde musics.
Recommended works; Dumbarton Oaks, Concerto in D, Ebony Concerto, Renard, Pulcinella
A film music maestro, He grew up alongside Cocteau, and shared the same aesthetics of his close friend.
Recommended works; Les facheux, Ouverture, Phèdre, Esmeralda, Little Dance Suite,
film music ; Orphée, Moulin rouge, La belle et la bête, Bonjour tristesse,
A german who abandoned romanticism. A great humorist. In fact... the perfect musician!
Recommended works; Wir Bauen Eine Stadt, Kammermusiken, Konzert für Holzbläse, Harfe und Orchester, Neues vom Tages, Mathis der Maler, Nobilissima visione, Der Schwanendreher, Sonate für Flöte und Klavier, Triadisches Ballet
He produced an energetic sound encompassing both traditional Aztec musics and the 20th century development of modern Mexico through elevated feelings inspired from latin american baroque ;
Recommended works; Sinfonia India, Symphony no.5, Hosepower, Saraband
Another film music maestro. Federico Fellini's indispensable composer rather than collaborator.
Recommended works; Concertino per archi, film music ; il Casanova di Fellini, 8 1/2,
A maestro of modern concertante works.
intense contrast of consonant and dissonant
Recomended works : deuxème concerto pour trompette et orchestre, concerto pour basson et orchestre de chambre, Concerto pour ondes martenot et orchestre
He brought together both lightness and pompousness through his work, a sophisticated cynicism, and how charming are his vocal works!
Recommended works : parade, relâche, entracte, mercure, socrate, jack in the box, avant-dernière pensées, embryons desséchés, tendrement, ludions
Great pianist with a roll over touch, sudden block chords, silky arpeggios.
his work includes all that so-called hard bop jazz piano
Recommended works; piano (whisper not), full view, kelly blue, kelly at midnite, it's all right !, modern touch (benny golson), someday my prince will come (miles davis), lee morgan vol.3, roll call (hank mobley)
A great composer, also a mysterious character, he used an eccentric melody with dance in a trance, descending notes cascade by strange scale
Recommended works; Thelonious monk trio, the unique, modern jazz giants (miles davis), brillant corners, monks music, genious of modern music vol.1&2
Charlie Parker like beautiful tones. remarkable black American composer, arranger & improviser. A pupil of Alan Hovhaness and Arthur Honegger
Recommended works; nica's tempo, art farmer quintet, art farmer septet, when farmer met gryce, gigi gryce and jazz lab quintet, lee morgan vol.3
A hard bop composer, clockwork comping with loud low tones. Sometime shows his afro-portugese (cape verdian) origin through his playing style and arrangement techniques.
Recommended works; horace silver trio, horace-scope, 6 pieces of silver, afro cuban (kenny dorham), the stylings of silver, further explorations, blowin' the blues away
Used simple but rich melodies with unique but non-complicated chord progressions;
Recommended works; Look for the Silver Lining, Till the Clouds Roll by, When You Look Tonight
Easy melodies with chromatic lines, often using #11th dominant, master of F#;
Recommended works; Cheek to Cheek, Easter Parade, Steppin' out,
Jazz inspired Chansons, witty and poesy like Jean Cocteau;
Recommended works; Boum!, L'ame des poets, La mer, Je chante
A modern songwriter from the mid 1970s. The ability to write songs with wit and charm in the style of the writers above.
Recommended works; any composition from the first 3 albums of Sparks
