Let it not be said I am not a blogger of the people — last Cagematch! pitted Monteverdi vs. (Just) Verdi against each other at a reader request. I was skeptical, but I really needed some Italians, so I went with it and was pleasantly surprised: although Verdi did, as I predicted, win by a tidy margin, Monteverdi garnered a respectable number of votes. Well done all ’round.
Their names, however, caused a bit of a stir; one Twitter follow asked, what’s next? Schoenberg vs. Berg*? And I said, hold on, that’s just crazy enough to work! And so things just got frosty in the Second Viennese School, because in this corner, adamant that not just anyone can compose because it’s twelve-tone and there are rules, dammit, it’s
ARRRRRNOOOOOOOOOOLD SCHOOOOOOOOENBEEEEEEEEEEERG
And in this corner, getting a late start with music but not with the ladies, it’s
ALLLLLLLLBAAAAAAAAAN** BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERG
I’ve heard from those who have considered this potential match-up that this will be a really hard decision. So it should be fun! Consider: Transfigured Night. But remember: Wozzeck. Emancipate the dissonance! Without scissors!
* Also suggested: Offenbach vs. Bach. I’m not doing this one because it would be mean.
** Did anyone else just get the urge to scream “ALLLLLBAAAAAAN!” chipmunks-style?
If it ain't Baroque... 
I think I’ll be playing “skins” this time actually …
Posted by fireandair | July 27, 2011, 2:17 pmOffenbach vs. J.S. Bach would be mean. But you could do Offenbach vs. C.P.E. or W.F. Bach, maybe.
Posted by eatswords | August 2, 2011, 4:06 pmOr PDQ!
But wouldn’t that be kinda mean in the other direction?
Posted by Jenn | August 2, 2011, 4:07 pm