Most Underrated Composers

Of all composers in the classical idiom, which ones do you believe are relatively underrated or underrepresented in the current catalog? I have pondered this question a few times, usually during and after listening to a particularly profound piece of music by a composer not generally considered a Great Composer. My below list is filled with some extremely talented composers, but I certainly would not consider them all “Great.” (After all, not everyone could be as good as, say, Beethoven.) Apparently many other people do not, and as a result these composers receive little attention in the recording industry. At least as exemplified by the majors. Bless those independents! Let’s hope no more go under.

My current list:

Alexander Scriabin. To my mind Scriabin is a Great Composer. His earlier works certainly reveal their influences clearly, but his late works are astonishing and no doubt great. The Divine Poem, the Poem of Ecstasy, Prometheus, the late piano works (Oh, that White Mass sonata!): these are all masterpieces to stand alongside the other greats in their respective genres. If only more interpreters would take up their cause. Fortunately there are a relatively good number of recordings of his works, but compared to those Germans, not enough.

Arnold Schoenberg. An unquestioned Great Composer and one of the most brilliant musical minds in history. But yet he is still underrepresented in the catalog. The reasons are clear: except for his early works, his music is exceptionally rigorous and not especially pretty. So what? His best music is worth hearing. Frequently.

Johann Nepomuk Hummel. What an unfortunate soul he was. Just imagine being a pianist and composer when Beethoven was active. His reputation was historically doomed form the outset; he apparently knew it, too, not having written any symphonies. Now I’m not going to claim that Hummel is a match for Beethoven – he most certainly is not – but his best music is worthy of consideration.

Karol Szymanowski. Here is a composer of some truly great music – mostly for the piano – who deserves a wider audience. I would classify him as an Excellent (or second rank) composer. Some works – notably his Second Piano Sonata, his Metopes, his Mazurkas – are all works of the highest order. Someone of Artur Rubinstein’s caliber and status needs to take up his works again and bring them to the public. His orchestral works have that opulent, luxuriant sound so common for those composers born after Debussy but before Prokofiev. Do listen to some of his music.

Samuel Barber. There is more to him than the Adagio for Strings. His First Symphony is actually one of my favorite examples from the last century. It cannot quite compare to, say, Mahler or Shostakovich, but it is worth a listen. His string quartet – with the small adagio – is excellent, and his Violin and Cello concertos are outstanding. Not a Great Composer, perhaps, but certainly a well above average one.

George Enescu. An orchestral composer of great skill. His Third Symphony ranks as the ignored great symphony of the 20th Century. Truly a masterpiece, structurally, thematically, in terms of orchestration. His output is definitely variable, but at it finest, it can stand next to anything. I will admit that some of his chamber works are of second or third tier status. Maybe lower than that.

Erwin Schulhoff. A very unique and personal choice, I know, but one worthy of consideration. My initial enthusiasm for his music in general has waned a bit, but not for some specific works. The first piano concerto, the Hot Sonata, the string quartets, the second violin sonata: masterpieces all. Worth the time, believe me.

Karl Amadeus Hartmann. Another very personal choice, but I’ve just got to keep advocating his symphonies.

Any others?