Bach and Beethoven I can agree with.
As for the third one I don't mind as long as it's NOT Brahms.
Probably my problem but an insurmountable one, I'm afraid.

"The three B's," unlike a lot of other phrases, actually has an known origin. It was Peter Cornelius who coined it. The three?

Bach
Beethoven
Berlioz

The master misappropriator, Hans von Bülow, who was a big Brahms nut as well as a big Wagner nut, substituted Brahms for Berlioz.

I still can't believe that that actually worked. Von Bülow was a bigger name than Cornelius, but still...

Edward Elgar : He wears his heart on his sleeve, but his Enigma Variations can be compared to the 'Greats' and the Cello Concerto rivals Dvoraks great example.

Antonin Dvorak : Wonderful melodies, great orchestration and he always shares the music equally across the orchestra.--kullervopete.

Mozart.
The others dont even come close.
dave

Very interesting, only now we have received our first vote for Mozart!

The first post has been updated.

Bartók

So here's a quick off-thread question: who ARE the three B's?

Bach Beethoven and Bartók of course

Your vote for Bartok has been added in the first post.

Andrew B will certainly agree with you on your choice of B's, considering who you omitted.

Berlioz, Bruckner and Britten, anyone?

some guy wrote:

"The three B's," unlike a lot of other phrases, actually has an known origin. It was Peter Cornelius who coined it. The three?

The 18th century musicologist Johann Mattheson talked about the three H's, Händel, Hasse and Heinichen. The roots of this idea (three masters united by the first letter of their last name) seem to lie deep in the German musicology tradition.

Mahler, though I admit it's very polar of me to say so. His music is just amazing, he definitely makes my second place.

Dmitri Shostakovich -- drama, gravitas, wit, pathos, subversion, name it!
_____________
Your vote has been added to the first post -- Kurki

Hmm... I'm almost surprised that Ravel isn't on here, he always struck me as being kinda similar to Sibbe...

That would be my other other... if there is an other other. (not Debussy, either, though I do really like his music too)

Ravel and Sibbe similar? I don't see the connection. I see Ravel as the more accessible version of Debussy.

It's a bit of a stretch, sure, but still. I can't help thinking they're a bit similar. I suppose I was thinking more along the lines of Tapiola, which I think is at least decently similar to Ravel; it uses heavy "dissonances" and such to paint a picture or something in the mind's eye (because, let's face it, Tapiola isn't exactly "consonant" in some places).

I guess it was just a very random thought of mine; I do that a lot.

It is interesting comparing 'Daybreak' from Ravel's 'Daphnis et Cloe' with Sibelius's 'Nightride and sunrise'.
Both composers conjure up a fantastic vision. Ravel's rather 'Mediterranean' and Sibelius with a rich 'Nordic' glow. I dont know what Sibelius thought of Ravel's music, but it seems that the French master spoke highly of a number of Sibelius's works.
I would guess that when Sibelius spoke of other composers offering cocktails of many colours, whereas he gave pure spring water, he was directing his comment at composers such as Ravel.--kullervopete.

Bartok!

Kurkikohtaus wrote:

Berlioz, Bruckner and Britten, anyone?

I would rather like this list were it not for the Berlioz inclusion... never particularly liked his works... Boulez? kidding...

Thanks for your vote, hangos, I've moved Bartok up in the first post.