Mozart vs Bach vs Beethoven

[DBZfan]

Whos Better

 

[BlacLord™]

I prefer Mozart. There's a quality to his compositions that's second to none, he acheived things that others couldn't.

Though Beethoven is close... The brevity and power he could instil was incredible.

 

[Filosoofis]

linkin park hands down

 

[Babadook]

Better in what regard? In terms of genius? Because I think that all 3 of them were in a class of their own, in the respective eras they had composed in. [Bach had already died when Mozart was born, and Beethoven was a youth when the latter died. So you have to take into consideration that Bach is the basis upon which the next generations built their music.The late compositions of Beethoven show a romantic influence, so it's quite hard to compare the baroque pieces of Bach, the mature classicism of Mozart and the late romanticism of Beethoven. (Not to mention that some consider the second mvt of Beethoven's last piano sonata as a foreshadowing of jazz).]

As for playing their music, I can only talk for the piano works, and in that aspect my fav is Beethoven. Bach is a second, but many of his pieces are just too...complex for me. He was a genius of contrapunct which forms a really advanced geometric pattern in his works, as well as the multivocal structure. Tbh, I don't really like Mozart's piano music- except for some more melancholic ones like the Fantasy in D minor. Altogether I prefer monumental and grandiose, heroic pieces like the Hammerklavier sonata (that is considered as a sarcasm of Bach's style, and its 2nd mvt is yet to be topped in terms of beauty. Not bad from a deaf man.)

In regard of listening, I say Beethoven again. Especially his piano sonatas and symphonies, but Mozart's symphonies are a close second. Well, the beauty is in 'the ear of the listener'.

 

[BlacLord™]

Better in what regard? In terms of genius? Because I think that all 3 of them were in a class of their own, in the respective eras they had composed in. [Bach had already died when Mozart was born, and Beethoven was a youth when the latter died. So you have to take into consideration that Bach is the basis upon which the next generations built their music.The late compositions of Beethoven show a romantic influence, so it's quite hard to compare the baroque pieces of Bach, the mature classicism of Mozart and the late romanticism of Beethoven. (Not to mention that some consider the second mvt of Beethoven's last piano sonata as a foreshadowing of jazz).]

As for playing their music, I can only talk for the piano works, and in that aspect my fav is Beethoven. Bach is a second, but many of his pieces are just too...complex for me. He was a genius of contrapunct which forms a really advanced geometric pattern in his works, as well as the multivocal structure. Tbh, I don't really like Mozart's piano music- except for some more melancholic ones like the Fantasy in D minor. Altogether I prefer monumental and grandiose, heroic pieces like the Hammerklavier sonata (that is considered as a sarcasm of Bach's style, and its 2nd mvt is yet to be topped in terms of beauty. Not bad from a deaf man.)

In regard of listening, I say Beethoven again. Especially his piano sonatas and symphonies, but Mozart's symphonies are a close second. Well, the beauty is in 'the ear of the listener'.

Bach certainly was not the basis for the next generation; he was considered to be dated in his own era. In other words, it was up to his contemporaries to pave the way for future composers.

 

[Babadook]

Bach certainly was not the basis for the next generation; he was considered to be dated in his own era. In other words, it was up to his contemporaries to pave the way for future composers.

I said generations to begin with.

Maybe I should have used the word 'influence', though. But you get the point. Without J.S. Bach, the music of classicism, romanticism and thus the modern music wouldn't be the same. So, it much boils down to what you understand by basis.

Basis

: something (such as an idea or set of ideas) from which another thing develops or can develop

: a reason for doing something

: a fixed pattern or system for doing

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"Bach was recognised by several prominent composers for his keyboard work. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric Chopin, Robert Schumann, and Felix Mendelssohn were among his admirers; they began writing in a more contrapuntal style after being exposed to Bach's music.[65] Beethoven described him as "Urvater der Harmonie", the "original father of harmony".

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"The baron encouraged Mozart to transcribe J.S. Bach’s fugues, which gave invaluable insights in composition to the 26-year-old. Mozart was said to have a copy of the Well-Tempered Clavier open on his pianoforte forever after.
...
Bach’s influence runs like a golden thread through many of Mozart’s instrumental, orchestral, and choral works, including the Requiem.
...
Lea and Abraham Mendelssohn introduced their prodigy children, Felix and Fanny, to the music of J.S. Bach at a very early age."

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Let's not even mention J.S Bach's influence on the sonata form, improved and modified by his son, handing it down to Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven...etc.

"Quite probably the most influential composer on the early development of sonata form was C.P.E. Bach, a son of J.S. Bach. Taking the harmonic and voice-leading techniques that his father had developed, he applied them to the homophonic style – allowing dramatic shifts in key and mood, while maintaining an overall coherence. C.P.E. Bach was a decisive influence on Joseph Haydn. One of C.P.E. Bach's most lasting innovations was the shortening of the theme to a motif, which could be shaped more dramatically in pursuit of development. By 1765, C.P.E. Bach's themes, rather than being long melodies, had taken on the style of themes used in sonata form: short, characteristic, and flexible. By linking the changes in the theme to the harmonic function of the section, C.P.E. Bach laid the groundwork that composers such as Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart would exploit.

The practice of the great Classical masters, specifically Haydn and Mozart, forms the basis for the description of the sonata form. "

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So, if nothing else, J.S Bach is at least an indirect basis.

I especially emphasised the hardship of comparing different periods of composers who themselves lived in different eras, and their styles were changing through their lifetime. I named works that simply wouldn't have been born without J.S Bach.