Mr. Tomassini asked for feedback - creating a useful exercise for classical music listeners to consider the way in which we consider excellence in composition. His videos were created to support the occaison, too - showing him to be a passionate and educated man of music literature and history.Film institutes periodically issue lists of the greatest films of all time. ("Citizen Kane" seems to have a lock on the top spot.) Rock magazines routinely tally the greatest albums ever. And think of professional tennis, with its system of rankings, telling you exactly which player is No. 1 in the world, or 3, or 59.Imagine if we could do the same in classical music, if there were ways to rank pianists, sopranos and, especially, composers. The Top 10 composers of all time. Now that's the list I have secretly wanted to compile. It would be absurd, of course, but fascinating.
But what is often overlooked is a the Public Relations problem of classical music - getting known well enough to find yourself on such a list. How does this happen? This is the same question that also needs to be answered for popular music - are people-skills and marketing savvy a part of this? It seems that Beethoven and Mozart had a knack for promotion, among others - most famously, Liszt. But it took a respected conductor and composer, Felix Mendelssohn, to tell the world of Bach and Schubert - otherwise they would have been lost to us - and off the list.
Audiences' opinions about art are commonly formed and manipulated by the press, once discovered. I remember one of my music history students relating to me the genius of rapper/ producer Kanye West a few years back. He believed that Kanye ranked among the finest musical minds in recorded history. Why? Because a documentary aired about him said so - and because the video portrayed him playing a violin in the studio. A violin! No matter that there are quite a few little children that can play a violin. The seemingly disconnected act of bowing a string instrument with rap production elevated him beyond his peers. People love these stories of artists ever more so if they like the artists' work. Furthermore, if a respected source tells them that the art of a newly discovered composer or artist is great - those words will serve to prime the pump for people's attitudes; this makes it 'bought as great' by the 'idea-customer'/listener. The list might be a good way to sell languishing records.
What makes a composer great? Dissecting and quantifying elements that make a piece of' music 'great' is not useful. You know that in a 'great' entree, a good 'taster' (listener) can distinguish the identity and quality of ingredients before they were cooked (separate sounds combined into the final sound). Does the 'best black pepper'(i.e. Counterpoint) alone make any dish great? Does the best quality truffle oil (i.e. Woodwind colors) make all food great? It's the combination of everything - (and that includes the presentation) that might lend it greatness. So, such a list built on techniques is a bit of a joke.
It is spirit, soul, energy, spaciousness - unknowable and something unquantifiable which makes great music great. That cannot be synthesized or quantified - only experienced.
Bach was forgotten after his death for nearly 75 years. If Felix Mendelssohn hadn't discovered and promoted that music, J.S. Bach may have been lost to us- becoming just a historical footnote. If Bach fell in the woods and nobody was there to hear it, would he still be great? Maybe, but he wouldn't be on the list!
