So, I've been through a lot of dudes and ladies looking for the foremost American composer. Some finalists, maybe: William Grant Stills, Aaron Copland, Paul Creston, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Douglas Moore, Ezra Sims, George Walker, David Baker, Dave Brubeck, Aaron Copeland, Lennie Bernstein, Howard Hanson, Roger Sessions, Leroy Anderson, Charles Wakefielde Cadman, Gunther Schuller, Henry Cowell, Roy Harris--Jesus, do I have to name them all! thegrowlingwolf for The Daily Growler
Not my list exactly as I've never heard of George Walker and I haven't heard the music of Ezra Sims nor of Charles Cadman although I've had the good fortune to spend the last six weeks becoming acquainted with the music of William Grant Still.
Regardless, the above growling person's post is great, if risque, and mentions Artie Shaw, John Kirkpatrick, Ava Gardner, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Freddie Green, Benny Goodman (aka Benő Guttman. Benő Guttman?), Buddy DeFranco, Tony Scott, John Cage, Lou Harrison, and his/her nomination for greatest (and most original) American composer. If only, in a weak American classical moment, Idolator would link to it. And recent aworks commenter nottellin@yahoo.com would second the nomination...
note: sensitized by a day job discussion re: warnings versus errors, false positives, and (yikes) false negatives, aworks feels compelled to point out some of the preceding wikipedia links warn about the validity of their content. let the clicker beware or else revert to using non-free/legacy and expert-"guided" if not written encylopedias.
bonus google search: dora ohrenstein.
bonus wikipedia link: the year disclosure was written and when the cal football team (believe it or not) beat ohio state in the rose bowl --not this year or in our lifetime of course.
Comments