First 'Beat Bones' bio!!??

[GreatCarouser]

Now that pm's appear to be working I want to try this old format and take a moment to explain the 'rules' to those unfamiliar with it. I give some biographical clues to a composer...if you care to guess you do so by sending me a PM. If you guess correctly you may then post an obscure 'clue' or two but please don't post the solution....if no one gets it I sparingly post other clues once the whining gets loud.

If for some reason the pm's don't work no guess will count and we will work along the lines of the 30Q game but since here we are dealing with a composer rather than a specific work we should try to set a 20Q limit and see if that is workable.

I used to call these 'mo bios' because the master of composing these on the BBB is shostakovich. His monthly efforts were greatly anticipated diversions and their popularity resulted in my composition efforts as well as attempts by others. Maybe this will get him to do another if time and scheduling permit. Interested newcomers can search for threads titled '...mo bio' or shostakovich's '(Month) bio' to find working examples of these.


I decided to name these "Beat Bones' bios because if you compose one you are always trying to stump Bones. Many folks are good at solving these but Bones' speed and accuracy are BBB legend. I felt he set the benchmark and should be honored. I know on those rare occasions when someone solved one faster than Bones it was a source of great wonder amongst the participants and pride for the solver. I stumped him once...I doubt it will ever happen again. So his name is appended to the bio(s) as a benchmark for composers and solvers alike. If you are ready let's begin:

X is rather obscure as composers go. X's output is rather small, it includes symphonies, operas, songs, and piano works. X might be best known as a composer for transcriptions of other composers' work. X is hardly obscure in the Classical Music world. X is (was) a renowned performer and teacher. Who is X?

[shostakovich]

Hi GC. I PMed you. If correct, this composer wrote the longest piano concerto recorded.
Shos

Bones must be on vacation.

[GreatCarouser]

Shos it was a fine guess but incorrect so the next hint is X didn't compose the longest piano concerto recorded. Perhaps X should have?

[bignaf]

was your guess Busoni?

[bignaf]

if my guess is correct, this composer has very famous performer students.

[GreatCarouser]

if my guess is correct, this composer has very famous performer students.

X also has/had those, but X isn't your man.

[shostakovich]

if my guess is correct, this composer has very famous performer students.

X also has/had those, but X isn't your man.

Yeah, mine was Busoni. Who was yours?

[bignaf]

Leschetitzky, Theodor.
Did you ever hear the Busoni monstrosity? I heard it once, I think I want to listen to it again. it's not only very long, it also has a big orchestra and chorus!

[shostakovich]

I have a copy. It's overblown at about 80 min, but worth a listen now and again.

[GreatCarouser]

Someone (who shall remain nameless) guessed Anton Rubinstein..a terrific guess and one that fits all the clues so far but.....not X....next hint is X wasn't born when Rubinstein was alive.

[bignaf]

mine and Shos also fit all your original clues, it might have been a little too generic.

[GreatCarouser]

mine and Shos also fit all your original clues, it might have been a little too generic.

I realize the original clues do little to distinguish one possible X from another but I have changed this format somewhat by posting the incorrect guesses as well as adding a clue everytime there has been an incorrect guess. Most of our 'tough' researchers seem to prefer the 30Q format to this...times change...

[Catmando]

I'll participate in this game once I get a little bit more knowledgeable about music and composers.

[bignaf]

I like this format too, but I think you need more info in the OP. yours seems like it has a little of the 30Q mindset, of "we'll solve it as we go along," which is fine, but isn't what distinguishes this game.

[shostakovich]

I think stringing out the clues, including who it ISN'T is a neat idea. At the moment I'm torn between Whosis and Whatzizname.
Shos

[GreatCarouser]

I like this format too, but I think you need more info in the OP. yours seems like it has a little of the 30Q mindset, of "we'll solve it as we go along," which is fine, but isn't what distinguishes this game.

I went back and perused some of the older bio threads and you are correct, *ig, that the clues for this one didn't meet the previous standard. So we'll call this one 'training camp' and I hope I'll find one interesting enough to do in the near future...meanwhile....back to potentially significant info on X. X seems to have had an extraordinary influence on the development of a 'modern' school of music in a country not known for 'Western' music.

[GreatCarouser]

I heard from Bones and he also points out the clues in the original bio fit too many people. I doubt he saw my last post when he sent his but it isn't Clara Schumann. He does point out that Busoni wasn't an opera composer but as he is at the beach he is trusting to memory there.

Next hint.......X is/was Western European.

[GreatCarouser]

You may eliminate all 3 generations of Avshalomovs. Next hint.....X recorded with one of the four or five greatest violinists of the last century (X may have recorded with some of the others as well but these recordings are particularly noteworthy) as well as with two of the great cellists of the 20 century.

[bignaf]

strike one Bones! Busoni is definitely an opera composer! his Turandot is famous for being yet another Turandot-inspried piece. and his Doktor Faustus is pretty well known.
it's all that sun!

[bignaf]

I submitted a guess which is probably wrong, since I think he's more well known for his compositions than his transcriptions (but I might not be aware of then).
if it's him, there an ensemble named after him.