Who is the modern equivalent of Beethoven?

Posted by: Whizzkid on 14 January 2010

Just listening to Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic and just for George & Mike, IT'S ON VINYL Big Grin.

The music is spectacular and as we all know, unforgettable once you hear it, this to me is quite a feet in composition and to maybe sound naive as I have only just started listening to Classical over the past year or two, is the top of the musical tree in terms of scope, emotional impact, accessibility and character. Though I'm not talking about just the 5th, iconic as it is, but all of Beethoven's Symphonies, Sonatas and Concerto's, well the ones I've heard anyway. I do understand that other Classical composers have produced stunning works of all shapes and sizes like two I've enjoyed lately, Mahler & Sibelius but going back to some Beethoven over the past couple of weeks has made me think about the shear emotional impact Beethoven has that its seems to my young and inexperienced ears to be a step above the others, I'm I right?

So who from todays crop of musical composers who has the ability to be accessible and deep in his/her compositions and original in style or is/was Beethoven unique in this way? do we have a modern equivalent a person that will be remembered 200 years from now as a mover and shaker in terms of musical execution?



Dean...
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by mikeeschman
No one can really say, but there can only be one Beethoven.

I don't know of anyone living who might be considered his equal. Still, he might be 5 years old and living in New Jersey right now :-)
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by TerryFranks
Hi Dean try Eminem one of the 21 century great composer in his own right as well as writing his own lyrics. But as Mikeeschman said there's only one Beethoven
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by Guido Fawkes
Nigel Blackwell is the greatest songwriter of the centrury, but Ray Davies and Paul McCartnet deserve amention - however Beethoven was pretty good I think his 5th was almost as good as ELO's Eldorado.

Terry - did you really mean Eminen or were just having a laugh.
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
Nigel Blackwell is the greatest songwriter of the centrury, but Ray Davies and Paul McCartnet deserve amention - however Beethoven was pretty good I think his 5th was almost as good as ELO's Eldorado.

Terry - did you really mean Eminen or were just having a laugh.


I'll second Eminem.
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by Sister E.
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


Ha, There's a tear in my eye sister. I love the dry stuff. Big Grin Big Grin
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.


Well....it's pretty good, but I prefer Rockaria myself.
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by Oldnslow
If Bob Dylan had put opus numbers on all his great songs, he would have written more masterpieces than Beethoven...... Smile
Posted on: 14 January 2010 by u5227470736789439
If not JS Bach!
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by Guido Fawkes
To anybody who doubts ELO were every bit as good and original as Beethoven then please please bear with me and click here and listen to the open bars - I bet Beethoven wishes he could have written stuff like that Smile
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.


Well....it's pretty good, but I prefer Rockaria myself.


I meant astounding that anyone would compare Beethoven and ELO.
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.


Well....it's pretty good, but I prefer Rockaria myself.


I meant astounding that anyone would compare Beethoven and ELO.


Mike, I was having a bit of a giggle there as I suspect was the sister. Surely you realise that?
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by ROTF:
To anybody who doubts ELO were every bit as good and original as Beethoven then please please bear with me and click here and listen to the open bars - I bet Beethoven wishes he could have written stuff like that Smile


Rock 'n' Roll Winker
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by mikeeschman
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.


Well....it's pretty good, but I prefer Rockaria myself.


I meant astounding that anyone would compare Beethoven and ELO.


Mike, I was having a bit of a giggle there as I suspect was the sister. Surely you realise that?


Now, after a cup of coffee, I realize that :-)
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by mongo
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by mongo:
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
quote:
Originally posted by Sister E.:
No comparison really. Beethoven never wrote anything as good as ELO's Mr Blue Sky.

Sister xx


astounding.


Well....it's pretty good, but I prefer Rockaria myself.


I meant astounding that anyone would compare Beethoven and ELO.


Mike, I was having a bit of a giggle there as I suspect was the sister. Surely you realise that?


Now, after a cup of coffee, I realize that :-)


Phew! Smile
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by Sister E.
Oh, I was being deadly serious Big Grin

Sister xx
Posted on: 15 January 2010 by Guido Fawkes
quote:
Originally posted by mikeeschman:
I meant astounding that anyone would compare Beethoven and ELO.
Come on Mike, I don't think Beethoven is that far behind and IMHO is definitely worthy of comparison with the mighty ELO. I think Ludwig would be popular if he was still around today - after all he was key member of Bill and Ted's band in their Excellent Adventure.
Posted on: 16 January 2010 by alainbil
quote:
Originally posted by Whizzkid:


So who from todays crop of musical composers who has the ability to be accessible and deep in his/her compositions and original in style or is/was Beethoven unique in this way? do we have a modern equivalent a person that will be remembered 200 years from now as a mover and shaker in terms of musical execution?

Dean...


I am not quite sure that you got the kind of replies you where asking for (although no one went so far proposing Britney). What’s about Shostakovich? This is a twenty-century composer that wrote symphonies, chamber music, and operas (like Beethoven indeed). His music has immediate appeal, even to people that are not used to classical music.