Tapkaara and I had a mini Brahms-discussion in the "Lurking" thread, no link, you all know where it is. Then I thought of this mini-joke.

What do you call a discussion forum with over a thousand members but no posts?

The Brahms Forum.

My deepest condolences to Brahms-lovers.

Poor, poor Brahms!!

Great joke, but Tapkaara wasn't it Nadia Boulanger who once remarked Poor, poor Sibelius. But by pure coincidence I put one in for Brahms earlier today on the 'Whats that lurking in your Cd' thread.--kp

I've always wondered about Nadia Boulanger. She taught so many of the 20th century's composers...but who was she? She herself was not a composer of any reputation...I suppose her sister LIlli was to some extent. Unless I've mised something painfully obvious, why was she so in demand if she, herself, was no great composer. Seems strange to me.

And for someone like that to make the comment "Poor, poor Sibelius"...well...I rest my case.

I agree, she was an influential teacher in America. Copland and Virgil Thomson come to mind--hey I wonder why they turned out anti-Sibelian? In my view as a composer she was not qualifyed to lick Sibelius's boots--kp

wasn't she in paris rather than the usa?

dj

Yes, Boulanger was in Paris. But I think Pete was getting at that she was so influential to American composers, thus influential to the American musical scene. Ned Rorem commented that she was the most influential musical figure of all time (!) due to the extent of her teaching.

I still don't get how a composer of no real reputation (one of her great accomplishments was winning 2nd place at the Prix de Rome one year) could have been so sought after for budding composers. I mean, composers might as well come and study with me.