 Desert Island Composers  We posed this question to our musicians: Suppose you were stranded on a desert island. You had time to grab from your sinking ship the complete works of three of your favorite composers. Who would they be? And, optionally, why? [Assume you have a device to play CDs with solar power to run it, plus plentiful food and water (seafood from the ocean and an inland freshwater lake). Don't despair--survival is guaranteed. You will be rescued after a year.]

(Most of our musicians were distressed that they could only choose three composers!)  Who are your favorite composers? Maybe COT will play them this season! 

1 – Mahler 1 – Beethoven 1 – Dvořák I always loved the vastness and Lots of gorgeous music, and 2 – Mozart breadth of his musical thought. particularly one chord that I could 3 – Vivaldi listen to all day. You need the few 2 – Beethoven Handel, Bach, Corelli, and more. measures in front to set it up, but After Beethoven, no one could be Guess I better not get stranded on a then - fabulous! Besides, Dvořák truly original. wrote some really nice stuff for 2nd desert island. 3 – Haydn oboe. Teresa, violin Humor, wit and a certain urbanity 2 – Prokofiev pervades the music. 1 – Brahms Snatches of his music run through Thomas, bass trombone I like the melodies that he wrote. He my head all the time, so I might as likes French horns. Everyone seems well listen to the whole thing, right? 1 – Dvořák to get interesting parts passed I'm a big fan of the flute solo in 3 – Beethoven around the . Dvořák’s Symphony #8! Beethoven! You know, Beethoven! I 2 – Respighi could sing along with the 9th (Alle 2 – Beethoven I like his harmonies. He is a menschen verden bruder...) for You can't beat Beethoven's 7th...or contemporary composer that wrote most of the year!! How do you his 5th...or his 9th! tonal music. choose between Beethoven and 3 – Astor Piazzolla Mozart??? 3 – JS Bach Just to mix things up a little bit. I I like his counterpoint. Marilyn, oboe and English horn love Piazzolla's rhythms! Elaine, French horn 1 – Stravinsky It's hard to pick just three. I'd love to 1 – Verdi Great variety of music, much of it also bring along Rimsky–Korsakov, Got to have . complex so lots to listen for and Debussy, and Copland to name just keep you busy on that island. a few! 2 – Tchaikovsky Dee, flute Favorite romantic era composer. 2 – Brahms Gorgeous melodies and some of my 1 – Debussy 3 – Sir favorite concerti and chamber music I love composers from the Love everything he ever wrote. of all time. Impressionist period. Couldn't we have our favorite 30? 3 – Bartok 2 – Mahler Chad, violin Similar to answer 1. I think he was able to represent the times he was living in through his Fran, flute 1 – Beethoven music. 1 – Tchaikovsky 2 – Mozart 3 – Ravel 3 – Tchaikovsky 2 – Saint-Saëns Again love the period and music. Mike, trombone 3 – Vivaldi Mary Ann, viola Jennie, viola

1 – Copland 1 – Mozart 1 – Beethoven Copland captures American Since my childhood, his music has 2 – Beethoven landscapes in music that express the been inspirational, intense, and vastness and contrasts in our great 3 – Brahms spiritual. As unusual as it may land. It's worth listening to some of John, violin sound, when I was a teenager and his less popular pieces. Quiet City is had many migraines, my mother one of my favorites. 1 – Ricard Strauss (tone poems) would have me lie down in a dark room and she put on Beethoven’s 2 – Dvořák 2 – Stravinsky (e.g., Firebird) most soothing piece of music and One of my first exposures to a 3 – Brahms that was what relieved the migraine. complete symphony was Dvořák’s ....and many more. The family doctor was very awed. New World Symphony. I can't imagine being stranded on a desert Mary Ann, tuba 2 – Brahms island without having this available He was the first composer I ever to listen to on a regular basis. 1 – Franck heard. Mom played the lullaby to Because his music is so melodic and get 4 little daughters to sleep at 3 – Bruce Cockburn full. I especially like his Symphony. nite. I love playing all his Hungarian Sorry, I had to include this talented Also he wrote a Sonata that can be pieces. poet / musician in my favorites list. I for flute, violin, or cello. I've played admit to my musical tastes being it on the flute. Gorgeous. Also have 3 – Dvořák formed in the 60's and 70's era, so a recording of Jacqueline du Pré So many reasons for liking him. One had to include a slightly different performing the Sonata. And a few piece in particular: “The Noon genre. His melodies are often as weeks ago I heard Franck's Piano Witch” is a tale told by my grandma poignant as his lyrics. I just couldn't Quintet in f. Gorgeous. I could tell it (from another cultural background) do without a daily dose of this was by Cesar Franck Same luscious to scare us little kids from going up talented composer / musician from melodies and chords. Franck was to the waterfall outside our Canada. Belgian not French. I think Herschel mountain cabin. She said the Water Bruja waits to push naughty children This was a very hard choice to nail said he was an organist. Organists off into the water. Sure scared me! down, especially with my influences like to modulate a lot. I hope we can do the Noon Witch from rock n roll, blues, jazz, and 2 – JS Bach again. gospel. I only started seriously His music is so complex. I could Martha, viola listening to classical music when I spend an entire year trying to follow was 20 and took up the horn when I each line of counterpoint. Try it with 1 – Beethoven was 25. the two or three part inventions for Symphony #3…very percussive Mary, French horn keyboard. It will drive you crazy. 2 – Dvořák Symphony #8, #6, #7 – beautifully 1 – Astor Piazzolla 3 – Ives odd tonality, lots of twists and turns. Piazzolla and the rest of the Charles Ives intertwines melodic Brazilian Bossa Nova composers passages in the most interesting 3 – Tchaikovsky bring back the early years of my ways, using folk melodies and other Symphonies #4, #5, #6 – most adult life. recognizable tunes. I feel like I've beautiful melodies; chamber music. won a prize when I recognize one. 2 – Stan Kenton And he is an American. Rossini wrote the music of my My first attraction to music other childhood: cartoons, westerns, than the classics came with modern Wonder why there is no Beethoven? comedies. jazz in my high school years. We know his pieces by heart. Don't need to take recordings to the Wallace, violin 3 – Mahler desert island. When my awareness shifted to 1 – Mahler more classical works, Mahler got my Lee, violin (also trombone) Mahler’s 1st symphony: I love the attention. He was the perfect bridge 1 – Dvořák forest he puts you in. for me between heavier classics and 2 – Brahms modern light classics. Never tire of 2 – Vaughan Williams Mahler. Can listen to it all day long. 3 – Beethoven 3 – Schubert Harriet, cello Rip, tuba Laurie, violin 1 – Borodin 1 – Prokofiev 1 – Handel Rich melodies and sonorous The movie, “The Competition”. I enjoyed playing in a chamber harmonies. orchestra in high school. 2 – Beethoven 2 – Brahms Sonata Pathétique on piano. 2 – Dvořák Complex vertical structure and Love the New World Symphony. 3 – Chopin passionate melodies. Prelude in A major, Op. 28, No. 7 3 – Paul Dukas 3 – Mahler and Waltz in C# minor. I am a big Mickey Mouse fan. Rhythmic power, complex Kim, viola “Fantasia” is one of my favorite orchestration, and frequent movies. melodies. 1 – Sibelius Beethoven is my fourth favorite. I started COT in 1984–85 with Symphony No. 2 was a great piece; I Barbara, cello Herschel Kreloff, and then I played have fond memories of playing it in in the Las Vegas Civic Orchestra for high school. 1 – Handel 4 years. From 1989–1998 I played 2 – Wagner He composed two of my favorite cello for COT. Then, I switched to harp pieces to play: “Passacaille” Bass and played for Herschel from 3 – Beethoven and the Concerto for Harp in Bb. I 1998–2013. After a 2-year break, I “Ode to Joy” is the first song I grew up listening to Baroque music returned to the Bass section at played for my grandma when I was and LOVE it!!! I also love his work, Herschel's request. I love the little and what I played many years “The Messiah”. opportunity to challenge myself later at her funeral. musically each season. This is my Jamie, double bass 2 – Andrew Lloyd Weber 28th season with COT. My favorite Broadway musical is “The Phantom of the Opera” and I Teresa, double bass 1 – Shostakovich Because I love heavy, heart-stopping could listen to its soundtrack for romantic music. Was in St. Peters- days! Its sequel, “Love Never Dies” 1 – Beethoven burg, , in June and heard has some of the most hauntingly 2 – Brahms Valery Gergiev conduct #7. beautiful music I’ve ever heard. 3 – JS Bach Indescribable. My personal favorite 3 – JS Bach Hyun, violin is Symphony #5. I love Baroque music. Also, he has 2 – Tchaikovsky such an immense body of work; I 1 – Prokofiev Why explain? Pathetique last year wouldn’t get bored. Prokofiev has been my favorite since remarkable. All the ballet music. He Denielle, harp high school. My love for his music is Russian and a genius. started when I saw an Alec Guinness 1 – Mozart movie which used the suite from Lt. 3 – Richard Strauss In some ways similar to Kijé as its theme. 2 – Debussy Shostakovich and apparently I like 2 – Shostakovich "heavy" emotional music. 3 – Prokofiev Moody, neurotic and compelling. Best symphony movement? Joanna, cello nd 3 – Haydn Beethoven’s 7th, 2 movement. The complete opposite of 1 – Handel [Editor’s Note: COT will play this Shostakovich -- bright and cheerful. symphony at its October 1 and 8 2 – Dvořák concerts.] Ed. oboe 3 – Copland Herschel, baton Glynn, viola 1 – Mussorgsky “A ”! 1 – Beethoven 1 – John Williams Glorious, inspiring, contained 2 – Borodin Because movie soundtracks are cool. passion. 3 – Tchaikovsky 2 – Brahms 2 – Shostakovich Calliandra, viola Can always do more Brahms. 3 – Vivaldi Sarasate! Tim, violin Judi, violin 1 – Tchaikovsky 1 – Vaughan Williams 1 – 3 Bs: Beethoven, Bach, Brahms His music is passionate and exciting His music touches my soul and Great music from all. [Editor’s Note: to listen to and to play. My only brings me peace. That’s not fair, Randy, having 3 regret is that he didn’t compose a composers for your favorite!] 2 – Grieg clarinet concerto. As a child, “Peer Gynt Suite” was my 2 – Oscar & Hammerstein 2 – Brahms favorite. I had a storybook to go Great movie music and vocals. His music is lyrical and with with it. 3 – John Williams beautiful phrases. 3 – Saint-Saëns “Mr. Excitement” 3 – (tie) Shostakovich and Dvořák In 6th grade, “Danse Macabre” was “Mission Impossible”, “Raiders of Much like Tchaikovsky and my favorite record. the Lost Art”, “Star Wars”, and “Pink energetic, bombastic, fun to play. Also Beethoven #6 (or any Panther”. I discovered Bernhard Crusell this Beethoven Symphony): emotional, Randy, violin summer; cool clarinet concertos – passionate, exciting. virtuosic, light, and fun to play. Emily, violin 1 – Stravinksy Chauncey, clarinet I love his contrasting music, from 1 – Beethoven ground-breaking ballets to his 1 – Beethoven The lyrical, powerful, soulful music neoclassical period. When I was in Want to play Symphonies #1–9. high school, I took a standardized 2 – JS Bach French test. The main story to read 2 – Corelli The dramatic variation and beautiful and respond to was about the riot I’m Into the Baroque works. themes of his music, e.g. cello that occurred at the premiere of his suites. 3 – JS Bach “Rite of Spring.” The test designers Good study material. 3 – Mozart probably didn’t expect a high school Dave, double bass Also Handel, Haydn, Brahms, student to know anything about Mozart. that, but I did! (I did very well on the 1 – James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich test.) My college graduation present Chris, violin () to myself was a boxed set of 6 LPs of Versatile group, many different nine of his masterpieces conducted 1 – Mahler kinds of themes and rhythms for by Stravinsky himself (which I still A vast amount of orchestral and survival. have). vocal/choral music. There would be 2 – Corey Taylor hours and hours of music to hear. 2 – Mozart (Stone Saw/Slipknot) You get a wealth of symphonies, 2 – Stravinsky Lyrics that have deep meaning – concerti, chamber music, and 22 A variety of music, specifically ballet keep my mind sharp! . music and music for small 3 – Apocalyptica ensembles. 3 – Dvořák (Finnish Metal Cello) I love everything he wrote, and 3 – Berlioz Classic instruments meet metal; oh, there are many of his ~200 pieces “Symphony Fantastique” how the strings sing! that I don’t know. I have too many favorite Just because I’m classically trained And I want scores for everything! composers!! I’ve analyzed the music doesn’t mean I’m restricted in music Dorothy, cello of the “traditional” composers so preference. much that I can hear almost all of Janelle, French horn the parts in my head. I would need a challenge to do the same with the music of a few of my favorite composers. Barbara, bassoon