drainbamage

Do we have composers like this today? I can only listen to one or two of Bach's pieces at once, they are so complicated, but I always crave his music after a while. I don't know of anyone today who makes this kind of music. This is a good clear recording of a lot of his music. A lot of people play his music, but I don't know anyone who composes like this. : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW4ooLi1yxE

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

No, not precisely. But would we want a copy-cat of any sort of music. I'm not the biggest Classical fan but I do have a number of Classical CDs and LPs, including J.S. Bach compositions. Bach is probably my favorite if not most recognized Baroque composer. I especially like the music he wrote for Organ, Lute music transcribed for Guitar, ensemble, Concerto and other music he wrote. Though I am not so sure I would describe it as complicated in the sense of later "classical" styles. My understanding is you can turn Bach sheet music up-side-down and it will still make sense when played. Complicated music to my ear from the technical performance standpoint would be music composed by Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Max Roach, and Duke Ellington. Jazz players and composers. From the Rock world, some Frank Zappa music was intricate, especially from a rhythm point of view. I'm pretty much a fan of every type of music. Classical guitar to Punk Rock. About the only thing that does not turn me on is Country-Western and Rap. Also much of today's Vocal Pop bores me to death. I have a very eclectic collection of recorded music, including such oddities as Khmer (Cambodian) Pop and Traditional Music.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

Not exactly like Bach, but quite a few during the Baroque period wrote compositions with similar styles. Vivaldi, Handel, Albinoni, to name a few.
Here's sample. (above attached file)
Mark

Attached file:
(Download)

SteveR Loc: Michigan

We had wonderful organists at my college who would play Bach fugues as we entered chapel. I don't know how they could play them....I couldn't even follow them they were so complex.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You don't like rap?

Dannj

[quote=drainbamage]Do we have composers like this today? I can only listen to one or two of Bach's pieces at once...

Wow! I can still only manage one at a time😊

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

My preferences go to classic country and bluegrass. When I was in college, I had to take a music appreciation class. Unfortunately, the professor, who was an elitist snob, taught me to detest classical music. Now, fifty-seven years later, I still detest the man.

andesbill

The guy was a bum. He never had a #1 hit on billboard. Where are the drums, the electric guitars? Not even a sax solo.
I’m not being serious, so don’t jump on me.
But like most people, I was brought up on pop music. In my case I reference 50’s rock and doo wop, and sixties rock. Although I enjoy some of most other styles of music from standards (Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwin, etc), some Jazz (Armstrong, Lady Day, Ella, Big Bands of the late 30’s and 40’s, some of the 50’s greats, Parker, Mingus, etc (limited on these guys), some opera, even symphonies. The one artist, I have never cared for, is Bach. To me, he is like cruciferous vegetables- just no. I know he is supposed to be good for me, but no.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I enjoy Marche Funebre by Chopin. My mother would play it before church with a smile as she would skip the short refrain that is commonly known.
Mozart, Country Western, Elvis and Rock from the 60-early 70s.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Tocatta and Fugue in D minor is my favorite.

controversy Loc: Wuhan, China

Here's an interesting presentation of Bach's genius: The enigmatic Crab Canon - the manuscript depicts a single musical sequence that is to be played front to back and back to front.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUHQ2ybTejU

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

[quote=drainbamage]Do we have composers like this today? I can only listen to one or two of Bach's pieces at once, they are so complicated, but I always crave his music after a while. I don't know of anyone today who makes this kind of music. This is a good clear recording of a lot of his music. A lot of people play his music, but I don't know anyone who composes like this.

I guess I would ask what you mean by "today" for classical composers? Anton Dvorak lived to the beginning of the 20th century and his Symphony No. 9 (New World Symphony) has been deemed among the most beautiful classical pieces ever written. I attended a New Hampshire Symphony concert where a "modern classical" piece they had just commissioned, was played. The conductor described it as "not melodious in the classical sense and with a lot of nervous energy." It was very complex and absolutely awful! Some New Age composers like Yanni seemed to delve into classical orchestral compositions and I'm sure there are others out there.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The primary periods of music that I tend to like are Renaissance through Classical. This is due to my playing classical guitar and renaissance lute. I do enjoy some Medieval vocal music, as well. Unfortunately, today's composers are somewhat lacking the necessary melodic lines to capture my attention.
--Bob

andesbill

I read a lot of novels about Wales (and England) of the 11th and 12th centuries (books by Sarah Woodbury). Can you tell me what music they would have heard?

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

As far as I am concerned, "rap" is a word and form missing one letter. The obvious skill of spontaneous rhyming composition could be much better put to use outside of the ubiquitous vulgarity employed. To succinctly answer your question, jerryc41, NO!