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Korngold vs. Rozsa - whose concert works do you prefer?


JJA

Whose concert works do you prefer?  

9 members have voted

  1. 1. Whose concert works do you prefer?

    • Erich Wolfgang Korngold
      2
    • Miklos Rozsa
      7
  2. 2. Whose piano concerto do you prefer?

    • Erich Wolfgang Korngold
      1
    • Miklos Rozsa
      8
  3. 3. Whose violin concerto do you prefer?

    • Erich Wolfgang Korngold
      6
    • Miklos Rozsa
      3
  4. 4. Whose cello concerto do you prefer?

    • Erich Wolfgang Korngold
      4
    • Miklos Rozsa
      5
  5. 5. Your overall favorite among the two (both film and non-film)?

    • Erich Wolfgang Korngold
      3
    • Miklos Rozsa
      6


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What it says in the title. Both of them are Golden Age film composers who also wrote a sizable number of non-film work, yet are primarily known for their contributions to film.

 

Given that both of them made a single cello/piano/violin concerto each, I included specific polls on those as well. For the first question, you should nonetheless consider their other works as well, such as Korngold's symphony and such.

 

Rozsa's piano/violin/cello concertos, in order:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO8ccRJ6vG0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRxCQ-Ktfn4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baJmos-LhrY

 

Korngold's piano/violin/cello concertos, in order:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VETsnuXn5gE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcGEGl5bdbk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bnZTsYUabM

 

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While I've heard a great deal of both composers' concert works over the years, I own very little. I own none of Rozsa's, and of Korngold, I only have Symphonic Serenade and Themes & Variations, Op. 42 - both of which are available on the BETWEEN TWO WORLDS recording from Decca. So I can't really answer your first four poll questions, at least not untill I've heard the clips you've linked to.

 

Overall, both are pretty even in my estimation. Korngold was my first Golden Age love, so he'll always have a special place in my heart. Over the years, I might have veered more towards Rozsa. But Waxman beats them both as my favourite of the era. He's my no. 1 guy.

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Korngold's pre film concert works are probably his most interesting.  They feel a natural extension of Vienna Romanticism, with some 20th century shadows.  Of course his Violin Concerto is pretty great.  

 

Rozsa's concert works have more vitality.  They put the old romantic notions through an intense rhythmic course.  To me, they feel more modern than a lot of avant-garde composer of the time.  Because while the serial school wrote cold academically modern music, Rozsa wrote in a modern classical idiom that did not forget the fact that humans still populated the modern world and faced its changes and challenges. 

I call his style, both for film and in concert, Modern Romanticism.    

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Never warmed to Korngold - he's like less saccharine Steiner - and only like to listen to either guy's concert stuff on occasion. Rózsa's violin concerto is something to behold, though, and generally i find him a much more affecting, less old-fashioned composer, especially in his MGM period (he's certainly more edgy). 

 

So probably i do lack a certain viennese gene. Waxman was more cutting edge than either, going by his section in my iTunes he's still a good deal below Rózsa - who, after all, was the greatest tunesmith of them.

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1 hour ago, Albus Percival Wulfric said:

An admirable composer, just like the aforementioned two, but I can take such music only in small doses.

 

That's my take too. I can only take so much deep, Eastern-European (Hungarian) chromaticism with a repetitive vibe before it goes on my nerves. I prefer Rozsa when he "opens up" a bit more - like the religious music from the biblical epics or things like EL CID, IVANHOE, THE THIEF OF BAGDHAD, THE JUNGLE BOOK etc.

 

Korngold, on the other hand, suffers a bit from the "mickey mousing syndrome" at times (although not as bad as Steiner). But then once in a while, he churns out a self-sufficient setpiece track that almost sounds 'modern' and Williamsy -- like the "Duel" track from THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER:

 

 

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39 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

That album is performed way too slowly.

 

I have the RCA/Stromberg/Brandenburg CD myself, which is excellent.

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5 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Rosza is my second favorite Golden Age composer, after Alex North. I really like his scores for biblical epics.

North is not GOLDEN.

In fact, he invented the Silver Age with his innovative styling!

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You either like saccharine, corny, overwrought , mickey-mouse, GOLDEN AGE Hollywood studio scores or you don't.

 

North an Herrmann wrote dramatic music, not ersatz Viennese concert music adapted for films.

 

Dealers choice.

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On 11/16/2020 at 8:12 AM, publicist said:

Never warmed to Korngold - he's like less saccharine Steiner - and only like to listen to either guy's concert stuff on occasion. Rózsa's violin concerto is something to behold, though, and generally i find him a much more affecting, less old-fashioned composer, ....

Yep.

 

 

Ya know, over at that other place you could be whipped for saying anything negative about Steiner and Korngold.

I have the scars to prove it. 😎

 

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