Classify your favorite musical artist/composer/band's genre:

[St. Jarvitude]

My vote goes to Radiohead, and I guess I could classify them as "rock". They could fit in several categories, though.

[JohnKleeb]

1. Ya know I don't have a favorite artist right now

[mitchum]

2. American Primitive Guitar...

founded by the late John Fahey

[Az]

3. Had to answer Techno but way to limiting

I have given up on labels for music. I listen to whatever is good. The music they expose us to here in the US is so freaking limited. There are a world of musicians most here have never heard. It makes me weap to think that some of the most beautiful sounds are unlikely to ever be heard because it doesn't fit some marketting plan.

[tjwmason]

4. Olivier Messiaen

Greatest composer of the 20th century. Nobody else in my office today, so his Livre d'Orgue is sounding forth.

Interesting factiod. He was held as a prisonder of war by the Nazis, during his time in the camp he wrote 'Quator pour le fin de Temps' (Quartet for the end of Time) which is scored for violin, clarinet, piano, and a three stringed 'cello (the only instruments available to him). It was premiered in early 1941 to an audience of 5000 fellow PoWs.

He doesn't actually fit into the categories as he is modern yet not necessarily orchestral. He is definitely within the whole 'classical' schema as one of the early moderns; and a giant among the French Organ school of the late 19th century onwards.