Composers

Famous composer Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, Saxony. He was the youngest child in his family. Schumann’s father used to sell books and during his earlier years he grew up studying literature and music. According to him, he had started composing even before he became seven. Schumann’s liking for music developed in his childhood days when he became inspired by Ignaz Moscheles, Franz Schubert and Felix Mendelssohn. One of the earlier works of Schumann is Papillons which is a blend of literature with musical representation. Papillons was created after getting inspired from a story in his favorite novel.
Schumman also created Carnaval, one of his most famous piano works, that is charaterized by his personal style. The noteable thing about this work is that all its sections start with notes of music emphasized by the German alphabets that spell Asch the town in Czech Republic. His other accomplishments include Fantasiestücke which is a collection of works for piano. In it Schumman has again combined literature and music together with artistic harmony. Similer qualites are found in his other two pieces, Warum and In der Nacht. Schumman has also produced great piano works, an example of such a work would be Kinderszenen that was finished in 1838. This musical piece has fun filled and childlike qualities associated with it. It is amazingly refreshing and portrays childhood very well. Read more…

Born December 11, 1803, Hector Berlioz is best known for his Symphonie Fantastique (1830), Grande Messe des Morts (1837), the choral symphony Romeo et Juliette (1939), and La Damnation de Faust (1946). In addition, he also wrote the Treatise on Instrumentation (1844), in which he provided a technical study of Western musical instruments. Rediscovered in the 1950s, Berlioz’s compositions and criticisms are important foundations for both classic and modern musical studies. He is the quintessential artist who’s not appreciated during his time.

Though not a musical prodigy, Berlioz started composing at an early age. Twelve to be exact. As would be the case later on his life as well, much of his musical pursuits were self-taught. For instance, Berlioz studied harmony via textbooks. His earliest musical instruments of choice were the guitar and the flute. For the most part, Berlioz’s formative education was concentrated on the literary arts and linguistics. At university, he would first study medicine, but ultimately leave it for music three years later (1824). His passion for music came from his own research, poring over books, scores, and operas.

In 1826, Berlioz began attending the Conservatoire de Paris, truly delving into the study of composition. That first year, he competed for the highly competitive scholarship “Prix de Rome.” He would not win, but would continue to pursue it until he did in 1830. With the prize, he also won an all-important five-year pension. That year would also mark the debut of one of his most important works Symphonie Fantastique, an orchestral work that would introduce new approaches to composition.

In addition, other major orchestral works included Harold en Italie (1834) and overtures for literary works by Shakespeare (King Lear) and Sir Walter Scott (Waverley and Rob Roy). His Romeo et Juliette (1839) was influenced by his love affair with actress Harriet Smithson, whom he would marry in 1833. In 1834, the two would welcome a son, but their marriage was overall unsuccessful and full of heartbreak. In 1841, they would officially part ways. Berlioz would marry once more in 1854 to Marie Récio, a long-time love. Their marriage however would also not be one of lasting bliss. As a Romantic, it’s not surprising to find Berlioz’s personal passions and disappointments would impact his work.

Among his choral works are La Damnation de Faust and the Christmas oratorio L’enfance du Christ. Among his operas, Les Troyens would prove pivotal in Berlioz’s renaissance. During his time, Berlioz’s style was a bit too removed from the establishment to be fully embraced. However, as time passed and distance provided perspective, his innovation came into sharper focus. Upon his death, it is said that Berlioz’s final (prescient) words were: “They are finally going to play my music.” And indeed they would, some 50 years later.

Berlioz’s final years were marked by fame abroad, though his home of Paris was as said, still resistant. He passed away on March 8, 1869, and was buried in Montmarte Cemetery. In the end, his legacy would prove to be not only his compositions, but his contributions to theory and the development of symphonic form and instrumentation. Along with Wilhelm Richard Wagner and Franz Liszt, Berlioz was regarded one of the “Great Trinity of Progress” for 19th century Romanticism. Though somewhat of an “outsider” during his time, Berlioz is today celebrated for that very maverick vision.

Born June 8, 1671, in Venice, Italy, Baroque composer Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni primarily composed operas and instrumentals during his career. Being from a wealthy merchant family, Albinoni was exposed to the arts from an early age, studying b0th violin and singing early on. He would ultimately make a career in Italy as an independent musician, and though more than 230 works can be credited to his name, the Venetian composer still considered himself an amateur for most of his professional life. Read more…

Popular virtuoso violinist, Antonio Lucio Vivaldi was born in Venice on March 4, 1678. He was also a well known priest and Baroque music composer. Vivaldi was lovingly known as ‘The Red Priest’. His most famous work is The Four Seasons. It is a grand collection of four violen concertros and a very well-known Baroque music piece. Vivaldi was instated as Maestro di Cappella of the court of prince Phillip in 1717 or 1718. Staying there over the period of three years he produced a couple of operas. Tito Manlio is one such opera produced at that time. He presented a facinating pastoral drama La Silvia in Milan in 1721. Afterwards, an oratorio L’adorazione delli tre re magi al bambino Gesù was presented in 1722. He produced four operas upon coming back to Venice in 1725. He came up with Four seasons at the same time. It consisted of four violin concertos portraying scenes of nature in music. The first concerto, “Spring” was created under the inspiration of Sinfonia in the first act of his opera “I1 Giustino” and the others were the result of original ideas. The countryside area near Mantua is possibly considered to be the inspiration behind these amazing works of art.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on the 7th of May 1840 in St Petersburg, Russia. Tchaikovsky started studying piano at five and started showing remarkable gifts at an early age. His mother died when he was 14. Historians comment that this event was the genesis of his composing career. At 19 he started to work at the Ministry of Justice. He remained there for four years despite his increasing involvement in music. Tchaikovsky joined the Conservatory in 1863 and also took private lessons. Tchaikovsky’s first symphony was a public success in 1868. Read more…

Greatly celeberated composer Jean Sibelius was born on December 8, 1865 in Finland. In the later Romantic periods he reigned supremely with with his outstanding music. Sibelius was also a revered composer in the late 19th and 20th centuries. With his musical achivements he was able to shape the national identity of Finland’s people. The best work of Sibelius includes a collection of seven symphonies. Read more…

One of the most appreciated Russian composers; Dimitri Shostakovich was born on September 25, 1906. His work had been rather controversial. In the earlier days of 1936 and 1948, he had to face two official condemnations for his music and his work was prohibited from general public, temporarily. However, later on he received a great amount of acknowledgement. These were the days when he received his state awards while living in Russia. Even though his works have been surrounded with controversy, he is remembered as a notable Russian composer of his times. Read more…

Well known for his melodic and harmonic style, Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer. He was born on January 31, 1797. Schubert rose to heights of success with his nine symphonies and operas. Amongst his other achievments are works on liturgical music, operas and a large collection of chamber and solo piano music. Schubert had good friends and other people such as his teacher Antonio Salieri and famous singer Johann Micheael Vogl who appreciated his art. Read more…

A Baroque composer of high ranking, Giuseppe Domenico Scarlatti spent most his life in Spain and Portugal. Being of Italian lineage Scarlatti was born on October 26, 1685. His music has played a great role in the progress of Classical style. It is possible that he achieved his early education under the supervision of his father, who was also the teacher and composer, Alessandro Scarlatti. Mosty likely he has also studied music from Francesco Gasparini, Bernardo Pasquini and Gaetano Greco. They all have inspired his musical style in one way or another.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg (now in Austria) on 27 January 1756. At the age of 5 he was already composing short works including Allegro in C and Andante. While young he and his sister ‘Nannerl’ toured through Europe as musical prodigies, his sister being a gifted musician on clavier, harpsichord and piano.

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