Composers

Prominent German composer Johannes Brahms was born in Hamburg, Germany on May 7, 1833. He had composed most of his works during the romantic era. Later in his life, Brahms moved to Vienna, Austria. Brahm had inherited the taste for music from his father who was also a talented musician and could play number of instruments. Brahm’s father was responsible for teaching music to his son for the first time. At an young age of seven, he had started studying piano with Otto Friedrich Willibald Cossel. From the early years, musical talents were evident in Brahms. Read more…

Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany December 16, 1770 and began to learn music at the early age of four. By the age of eight he was studying the piano, organ and viola under various tutors including Christian Gottlob Neffe, the Court Organist in Bonn. Beethoven is said to have visited Vienna in 1787 to study under Mozart, though no one is certain as to why he did not study with him. He quickly returned home due to his mother’s failing health and her death in July 1787.

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Johann Sebastian Bach was born 21 March 1685 in Eisenach, located in modern day Germany into a family of prominent musicians. Yet his first composition was not musical but genealogical, entitled “Origin of the Musical Bach Family.” During his childhood he was instructed in the harpsichord, organ and violin. Unfortunately both his mother and father died within eight months of each other around his tenth birthday. This turn of events found him moving in with his oldest brother Johann Christoph and receiving instruction on clavichord as well as studying and performing music in general.

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