List No. 074
10 COMPOSERS I LIKE BEST
Lucas Armory
January 2011
In January 2011, chief music critic at the The New York Times, Anthony Tommasini, concluded a two-week project in which he discussed the world’s finest composers by unveiling a list he had personally compiled: The Top 10 Composers. As can be expected, much discussion was generated by his list, but it was a written response from eight-year-old Lucas Amory, son of noted violists Misha Amory and Hsin-Yun Huang, that really stood out.
The Top 10 Composers, by Anthony Tommasini
1. Bach
2. Beethoven
3. Mozart
4. Schubert
5. Debussy
6. Stravinsky
7. Brahms
8. Verdi
9. Wagner
10. Bartok
Hi Mr Tommasini,
I read about you in the newspaper. Like you, I adore music. So I’ve written two lists: The 10 Greatist Composers and: The Ones I Like Best. Lets start with 10 Greatist:
1, 2, 3: You’re right about those: Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.
4: I disagree about that; I’d go with Haydn. Haydn is as good as Mozart, but goes with 4.
4A: If I hurt your feelings I’m sorry.
5: This one my dad chose for me: Schubert. I gotta say, I’ll have to agree. I don’t know why, but I’ll do it.
6: This is hard. I’ll go with Brahms. He was supposed to be lower but when I learned he burned his music...
7: Tchaikovsky. Most definaly. He was an awesome composer.
8, 9: Chopin is 8. Schumanns nine.
10: Lizst?
TURN OVER FOR THE TEN COMPOSERS I LIKE BEST
1. Even though my favorite piece is Tchaikovskys Violin Concerto, someone else is beside him: Schumann. Schumann wins.
[drawing]
1A: Uh-huh you get the picture
2: Tchaikovsky.
3: Rachmaninoff.
4: Lizst
5: Chopin
6: Schubert
7: You won’t believe it: Paganini
8: Rossini
9: Prokoviev
10: Grieg
Sincerly,
Lucas Amory
P.S. I go to Lucy Moses School. I’m 8 years old.
