Who is the greatest German composer who has ever lived?

Answer 1

Ludwig van Beethoven

Answer 2

Many composers are great at certain forms of music, like piano or symphonic, but if you look at some of the better composers and add up their talent, abilities and accomplishments it becomes pretty clear that empirically the greatest composer, by actually a long shot, is Ludwig van Beethoven.

Musicianship-

Beethoven was by all accounts the greatest piano player of his day. He was also the greatest improviser of his time. This is well documented by many accounts from his contemporaries. He was also not only able to write music without hearing a note, but was able to correct string players by watching their hands on the necks of the instruments!

Accomplishments-

Most music historians will agree that he wrote the greatest masterpieces in virtually every genre except Opera. His Symphonies, String Quartets and Piano Sonatas are the cornerstones of their respective genres, while many feel his Piano Concerto no.5 and his Violin Concerto are the greatest as well. He revolutionized music twice in his career -once with the Third Symphony (as radical then as the Rite of Spring was in the early Twentieth century), and then again with his forward looking Late Period works. His influence was felt over two centuries, to the point that modern composers such as Cage and Stockhausen had to consciously rebel against him!

Besides writing the greatest body of work in human history, Beethoven invented the concept of self-expression through music. Up until that point, music was either used for religious ceremony or for royal entertainment. Composers were considered servants, like cooks, and the idea that a composer would have something to say through his music was totally an alien concept. Beethoven, by sheer force of his personality and genius, forever altered that concept. He elevated the composer from servant to King, and that is where we get the idea of music as a means of self expression today. Furthermore, he invented the concept of Avante-garde music - music that was not meant for contemporary audiences but for the future. Both these concepts can not be understated - if this was his only accomplishment he would have still been considered the revolutionary force he is today.

Add to all this the fact that:

*he was and remains one of the most popular composers of all time

*Wrote the greatest melody in music history (Ode to Joy -using only 5 notes!) and the greatest motif (5th Symphony).

*The first successful free lance composer

*Was, along with Bach, the consummate composer of fugues

Oh yeah, and he was DEAF!

I don't think it can be argued that the crown of "Greatest Composer in History" fits easily on Beethoven's wild hair! No other composer matches up.

C

Answer 3

Engelbert Humperdinck.