5 Classical Music Artists You Need to Know
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We all know Beethoven and Mozart, but what about the other great classical music artists? Here are 5 you need to know.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer of the Baroque period. He is known for his innovative and complex musical compositions. Bach’s works include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Goldberg Variations, and the Mass in B minor.
Bach’s early life and musical training
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in Eisenach, Germany, in 1685. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was the director of town musicians. His uncles were all professional musicians. It was expected that Johann Sebastian would become a musician too.
Johann Sebastian Bach had a lot of musical training. He learned to play the violin and the harpsichord. He also studied music theory. He worked for a while as a violinist and organist in Weimar and Arnstadt. Then he became Kapellmeister (music director) at the court of Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen. Bach wrote most of his instrumental works during his time in Cöthen.
In 1717, Bach became cantor (choirmaster) at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Germany. He stayed in Leipzig for the rest of his life.
Bach’s major works
Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most important and influential composers of all time. A German baroque composer, Bach is perhaps best known for his works for the keyboard, including his celebrated “Goldberg Variations.” But Bach’s output also includes a wide range of other works, from sacred choral music to instrumental pieces. Here are five of Bach’s major works that every classical music lover should know.
1. “The Well-Tempered Clavier”
Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues, each in all 24 major and minor keys. The work is considered a major landmark in the history of Western music, and it is still studied and performed by keyboardists today.
2. “Mass in B Minor”
Bach’s “Mass in B Minor” is a massive work, consisting of 27 separate movements that total over two hours in length. The work was unfinished at the time of Bach’s death, but it was later completed by his son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and his student Johann Friedrich Agricola. Today, the “Mass in B Minor” is considered one of the greatest choral works ever composed.
3. “St Matthew Passion”
Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” is a large-scale setting of the Passion narrative from the Gospel of Matthew, complete with soloists, chorus, orchestra, and continuo group. First performed in 1727, the work was not well-received at the time; it was not revived until almost a century later. Today, however, it is regarded as one of Bach’s greatest works, and it is frequently performed during Holy Week.
4.”Brandenburg Concerto No. 5″
One of six concerti that Bach dedicated to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, the “Brandenburg Concerto No. 5″ is widely considered to be one of the greatest concerti ever written. The work features an unusual combination of instruments: trumpet, flute, violin, and oboe (in addition to the usual strings and continuo).
5.”Goldberg Variations”
The “Goldberg Variations” are a set of 30 variations on an original theme by J S Bach’s contemporary Gottlieb Goldberg. The work was originally written for harpsichord; today it is often performed on piano orother keyboard instrument. The Goldberg Variations are beloved by both performers and audiences alike; they are both technically challenging and deeplymoving musical experience.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many of which are widely recognized as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music.
Mozart’s early life and musical training
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria. His father, Leopold Mozart, a noted composer, instructor, and the author of famous treatises on violin playing, was then in the service of the archbishop of Salzburg. Young Wolfgang showed evidence of great musical talent at an early age.
At three he pleased his father and a group of visitors by picking out a tune on the harpsichord; by four he had composed two little pieces, which were published soon afterward under the title Andante and Allegro. When he was five years old he began appearing in public with his sister Maria Anna (known as Nannerl), who was two years his senior and an accomplished keyboard player. In the next few years the two children toured widely throughout Europe as participants in their father’s successful series of “musical journeys.”
In London they performed before such notables as George Frederick Handel; in Paris they were lionized by the aristocracy. In Vienna they met such eminent composers as Johann Christian Bach (the 11th child of Johann Sebastian Bach) and Gottfried van Swieten (a close friend of Franz Joseph Haydn), who became Wolfgang’s patron and tutor. The young composer also studied under Johann Georg Albrechtsberger and Antonio Salieri.
Mozart’s major works
Mozart’s six symphonies for string orchestra, written in Salzburg in 1773, are in three parts without winds:
-Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major, K.364 (1779)
-Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 (1788)
-Symphony No. 41 in C major, K.551 “Jupiter” (1788)
Mozart also wrote a number of works for solo piano, including:
-Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major, K.271 “Jeunehomme” (1777)
-Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major, K.414 (1782)
-Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major, K.449 (1784)
-Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K.466 (1785)
-Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K.467 (1785)
In addition to his concertos, Mozart wrote a great deal of chamber music for winds:
-Clarinet Quintet in A major, K.581 (1789)
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto, 32 piano sonatas, 16 string quartets, his great Mass the Missa solemnis, and one opera, Fidelio.
Beethoven’s early life and musical training
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in the city of Bonn in the Electorate of Cologne, a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. His family came from Brabant, present-day Belgium, and his father, Johann van Beethoven, was Bonn’s most prosperous and eminent musician. As such, the young Ludwig was exposed to a steady diet of music at an early age. Unfortunately for Ludwig and his siblings—there were seven altogether—Johann was an abusive man who would often come home drunk and take out his frustrations on his wife and children.
Ludwig’s musical talent was apparent from an early age, and his father taught him diligently, hoping to exploits him as a child prodigy like Mozart. The lessons were often harsh, with Johann beating Ludwig if he made a mistake. Nevertheless, Ludwig made great progress as a pianist and violinist, and he made his public debut in 1778 playing keyboard pieces by Domenico Scarlatti.
In 1779, Beethoven’s grandfather passed away, leaving Johann responsible for the care of three young boys: Ludwig (9 years old), Karl van Beethoven (10 years old), and Caspar Anton Carl (7 years old). This added financial strain to an already difficult situation at home,leading Johann to seek even more opportunities to make money from his son’s talents. In 1781, Beethoven gave his first public performance as a pianist at the Court of Cologne—despite being only 11 years old—and he composed his first piece shortly thereafter.
Beethoven’s major works
Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most important composers in the history of classical music. He was a revolutionary who helped to bridge the gap between the Classical and Romantic eras in music. His work straddled both periods and influenced composers who came after him.
Beethoven was a master of many genres, but he is best known for his symphonies, concertos, and sonatas. He also wrote some important chamber music and piano pieces. Many of his works are staples of the classical repertoire and are regularly performed by orchestras and soloists around the world.
Here are five essential works by Ludwig van Beethoven:
Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 (“Eroica”): This symphony is widely regarded as one of Beethoven’s greatest achievements. It is huge in scale and ambitions, and it completely transformed the genre of the symphony. “Eroica” broke new ground in its use of expressive harmony, orchestration, and form.
Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67: This symphony is one of Beethoven’s most popular works. It is known for its dramatic first movement, which famously opens with four ominous chords that seem to spell out a message of fate or destiny. The rest of the symphony is equally powerful, with a stirring second movement and a rousing finale that ends in triumph.
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 (“Emperor”): This concerto is one of Beethoven’s most popular piano works. It is known for its grandiose opening movement, which features a solo piano accompanied by the full orchestra playing fortissimo (very loudly). The concerto also has a beautiful slow movement and a lively finale that will delight audiences.
Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No 2 (“Moonlight”): This sonata is one of Beethoven’s best-loved piano works. It gets its nickname from its tranquil opening movement, which evokes the image of moonlight shining on a lake at night. The sonata also has a playful second movement and a powerful finale that makes use of Rondo form.
String Quartet No 15 in A minor, Op 132: This quartet is one of Beethoven’s late works, written during a period when he was struggling with deafness and poor health. Despite these difficulties, he still managed to produce an incredibly powerful work full of hope and optimism. The quartet features four striking movements that showcase Beethoven’s mastery of counterpoint and fugue
Frederic Chopin
Frederic Chopin was a Polish composer who lived in the early 1800s. He is best known for his piano music, which is considered some of the finest ever written. Chopin’s music is known for its beautiful melodies and interesting harmonies. If you’re new to classical music, Chopin is a great place to start.
Chopin’s early life and musical training
Chopin was born in 1810 in Zelazowa Wola, a village in the Duchy of Warsaw. His parents were French émigrés: his father, Nicholas Chopin, was a professor of French at Warsaw’s Lyceum; and his mother, Justine (née Krzyżanowska), was a talented amateur pianist. Chopin had two older sisters: Ludwika (known as Louise or Louison) and Izabella.
In October 1826, at the age of 16, Chopin travelled to Berlin with Tytus Woyciechowski, one of his closest friends from childhood; he then continued on to Vienna. There he hoped to study with Johann Nepomuk Hummel and Luigi Cherubini. However, neither composer was willing to take him on as a student, so instead he studied counterpoint and composition with Anton Reicha. He also immersed himself in the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.
Chopin’s major works
As a classically trained musician, Frederic Chopin was able to fuse together his two loves: classical and romantic music. His compositions reflect a sometimes delicate, sometimes tormented soul that was searching for answers to life’s big questions.
Chopin’s most popular works include:
-Prelude in E minor, Op. 28 No. 4: This Prelude, one of Chopin’s 24 Preludes, is probably the most famous of all of his works. It is frequently performed by students and professionals alike.
-Nocturne in C# minor, Op. posth.: This nocturne was not published until after Chopin’s death, but it has become one of his best-loved pieces. It is elegant and haunting, with a beautiful melody that will stay with you long after the music has ended.
-Fantasie-Impromptu in C# minor, Op. 66: The Fantasie-Impromptu is one of Chopin’s most virtuosic pieces, and it is sure to wow any audience. It is full of passion and fire, making it a favorite among pianists looking to show off their technical prowess.
If you’re looking to get started with Chopin’s music, these are three great pieces to start with.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
If you’re looking to get into classical music, there are a few names you need to know. One of those names is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who lived in the 19th century. He’s one of the most popular classical composers of all time and his music is still performed all over the world today. Let’s learn a little bit more about his life and music.
Tchaikovsky’s early life and musical training
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born on May 7th, 1840, in Votkinsk, Russia. He was the second of five children born to Ilya Petrovich Tchaikovsky, a Ukrainian-born engineer, and his second wife Alexandra Andreyevna Tchaikovskaya (née Dangolevitch). Tchaikovsky’s parents’ marriage was marred by violence and alcoholism; his father brutally beat his mother and siblings frequently. As a result of the constant abuse, Pyotr developed a lifelong stutter.
Young Pyotr received his first piano lessons at age five from his mother. He also began taking French lessons at this time. Unfortunately, his mother died of cholera in 1854, when Pyotr was just fourteen years old. This event had a profound effect on the young musician; he later recalled that he “wept day and night” for weeks after her death. As the eldest child, Pyotr assumed responsibility for the care of his younger siblings.
In 1859, Pyotr began attending the School of Jurisprudence in Saint Petersburg. studying law with the intention of following in his father’s footsteps and becoming an engineer like him. However, he quickly became more interested in music than engineering, and after graduation he decided to pursue a career as a composer. In 1862, he enrolled at the newly founded Saint Petersburg Conservatory to study composition under Anton Rubinstein.
Tchaikovsky’s major works
1. Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36 (1877–78)
2. Swan Lake, Op. 20 (1875–76, revised 1880 and 1881)
3. Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66 (1889)
4. The Nutcracker, Op. 71a (1892)
5. Manfred Symphony in B minor, Op. 58 (1885)
