Any relatively obscure composers in your personal Top-10?
If not, which one would come closest to being considered obscure? (Probably self-explanatory, but:) For instance, if I only liked Beethoven and Prokofiev, Prokofiev would by default be the more obscure. Most people who don't know classical music know at least of Beethoven, while not necessarily of Prokofiev. - I suppose the point of this thread is to talk about composers that don't often receive a lot of attention, and - selfishly - for me to perhaps make a new discovery.
I was going to wait to share mine until after reading the replies, but considering this may not garner any replies (one never knows) I will name mine now:
George Enescu (aka Georges Enesco) - and he is way up there for me, probably in my top-5.
Enescu was a virtuoso violinist. This, not unlike Liszt's early reputation as pianist, probably hindered him as a composer. For one thing, he was known as a performing violinist and as the teacher of Yehudi Menuhin. Also to make ends meet Enescu had to constantly tour as a performer, taking away valuable time away from composition. Still, he published 33 Opus's (opii?) and left several dozen works either unpublished or works without opus number.
Another thing that may have effected his popularity was that his one "hit" wasn't an accurate representation of the bulk of his better works. I'm speaking of his First Romanian Rhapsody, Op. 11 No. 1 - This was certainly the case for me. I knew this piece of music in my young-teens as it was included on a cd with a Brahm's symphony. The Rhapsody is an impressive showpiece with several different motifs throughout it's 12 minutes. It fascinated me then, but I never sought out the rest of his work until several years later.
Now I feel an incredible affinity for his music, especially his later works. Some of his compositions are so unique and esoteric that they almost feels like they were written just for me: I feel an odd personal attachment to them. I don't think I can say that about any other composers' works.
Recommended works (just to name a few):
*Opus 26, No. 2: Cello Sonata No. 2 in C major (1935)
*Opus 25: Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor dans le caractère populaire roumain (1926)
*Opus 27: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major Suite villageoise (1937–1938)
*Opus 22, No. 2: String Quartet No. 2 in G major (1950–52)
*Opus 6: Violin Sonata No. 2 in F minor (1899)
*Opus 29: Piano Quintet in A minor (1940)
*Opus 22, No. 1: String Quartet No. 1 in E♭ major (1916–20)
A few more notes:
Enescu visited with Ravi Shankar before it was "cool" - he's the earliest musician to have met with Shankar from the Western world that I'm aware of, though there may have been several earlier for all I know.
I have some of his early non-Opus-numbered works, and he did start very early indeed. His first composition was, I believe, when he was five years old, or earlier. His first Opus was published when he was 16.
He published one Opera, Opus 23: Œdipe, tragédie lyrique in four acts, libretto by Edmond Fleg (1910–31), a remarkable three hour long Opera whose dramatic force has been compared to Berg's Wozzeck.
Being born practically right on the line that divided the West from the Eastern world, and the fact that he studied Eastern music extensively (as well as traditional & gypsy music to an extent that may have challenged even Bartók), an Eastern influence can be heard in some of his works, notable the Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor dans le caractère populaire roumain, Op. 25.
Any fans of George Enescu? - Who is your favorite relatively-obscure composer?
_________________________________________________________________________________
Writing this has made me think of a couple of other thread ideas which could be discussed here as well. Namely, "Virtuosity negatively effecting one's repute as a composer" & "Great composers largely known for one work?" - Taking the latter idea, in Enescu's case it would be the 1st Romanian Rhapsody. Not entirely related, but this reminds me of Rachmaninoff, and how when he was young people always wanted to hear him play his Prelude in C sharp minor. I forget his quote about it, but because he considered it an inferior piece, he had some disdain for it.
Will Hays is my shepherd, I shall not want. Will's prod and Will's gaff, they confound me.