Any of the composers that will be discussed in this article can easily be called the greatest composer classical music ever existed.

Although it is impossible to compare music created over several centuries, all these composers stand out very clearly against the background of their contemporaries. In their works, they strove to expand the boundaries of classical music, to reach new heights in it that had not been reached before.

All the great composers of classical music below in the list are worthy of the first place, so the list is presented not by the importance of the composer, but in the form of information for acquaintance.

For the world classics, Beethoven is a very significant figure. One of the most performed composers in the world. He composed his works in absolutely all existing genres of his time. It is a harbinger of the period of romanticism in music. Instrumental works are recognized as the most significant of the entire legacy left by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Greatest composer and organist in world music history. is a representative of the Baroque era. In his entire life he wrote over a thousand works, however, during his lifetime, only about a dozen were published. He worked in all genres of his time with the exception of opera. He is the founder of the Bach dynasty, the most famous in music.

The composer and conductor, a virtuoso violinist and organist from Austria, had an incredible musical memory and amazing hearing. I started to create with early years and excelled in all genres of music, for which he is rightfully recognized as one of the great composers of classical music in history.

The most mysterious and mysterious work of Mozart - "Requiem", was never completed by the author. The reason for this was a sudden death at thirty-five years old. Completed work on "Requiem" by his student Franz Susmeier.

Great German composer, playwright, conductor and philosopher. Had a huge impact on modernism and the whole european culture at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

By order of Ludwig II of Bavaria, an opera house was built in Bayreuth according to Wagner's ideas. It was intended exclusively for the works of the composer. Wagner's musical dramas run in it to this day.

The Russian composer, conductor and music critic is one of the best melodists in the world. His work has made a huge contribution to the development of world classics. Among classical music lovers, he is a very popular composer. In his works, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky successfully combined the style of Western symphonies with Russian traditions.

Great composer from Austria, conductor, violinist, and recognized by all peoples of the world "king of the waltz". His work was dedicated to light dance music and operetta. In his legacy, there are over five hundred waltzes, quadrille, polka, and also several operettas and ballets. In the nineteenth century, thanks to Strauss, the waltz gained incredible popularity in Vienna.

Italian composer, guitar virtuoso and violinist. A very bright and unusual personality in musical history, is a recognized genius in the world art of music. All the creativity of this great man was shrouded in some kind of mystery, thanks to Paganini himself. He discovered in his works new ones, which had never been known species violin technique. He is also one of the founders of romanticism in music.

All these great composers of classical music have had a very great influence on its development and promotion. Their music, tested by time and entire generations, is in demand today, perhaps even to a much greater extent than during their lifetime. They created immortal workswho continue to live and pass on to the next generations, carrying emotions and feelings that make you think about the eternal.

So, Ludwig van Beethoven has been recognized as one of the greatest composers for the third century. His works leave a deep imprint on the souls and minds of the most sophisticated listeners. A real success at one time was the premiere of the composer's 9th D minor symphony, in the finale of which the famous choral "Ode to Joy" to the text of Schiller sounds. One of the modern films presents a good montage of the entire symphony. Be sure to check it out!

L. van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor (video editing)

Classical music is nowhere near as popular as it was in its golden age, from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, but it is still impressive and inspiring for many. The famous music composers who created these great works may have lived hundreds of years ago, but their masterpieces are still unsurpassed.

Famous German composers

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most important names in the history of classical music. He was an innovator of his era, expanding the scope of the symphony, sonata, concert, quartet, and in a new way combining vocals and instruments, although the vocal genre was not that interested in him. The public did not immediately accept his innovative ideas, but fame did not keep itself waiting too long, therefore, even during Beethoven's life, his work was appreciated at its true worth.

Beethoven's whole life was marked by the struggle for healthy hearing, but deafness still overtook him: some of the great composer's most important works were created during the last ten years of his life, when he was no longer able to hear. Some of Beethoven's most famous works are “ Moonlight Sonata"(No. 14), the play" To Eliza ", symphony No. 9, symphony No. 5.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Another world famous German composer is Johann Sebastian Bach, a genius author whose works in the 19th century aroused interest even among those who were not interested in serious, classical music. He wrote organ music, vocal and instrumental music, and music for other instruments and instrumental ensembles, although the operatic genre he still managed to get around. Most often he was engaged in writing cantatas, fugues, preludes and oratorios, as well as choral arrangements. It was Bach, together with Georg Friedrich Handel, who were the last composers of the Baroque era.

Throughout his life, he has created over a thousand pieces of music. The most famous works of Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565, Pastoral BWV 590, "Brandenburg Concertos", "Peasant" and "Coffee" cantatas, Mass "St. Matthew Passion".

Richard Wagner

Wagner was not only one of the most influential composers in the whole world, but also one of the most controversial because of his anti-Semitic worldview. He was a supporter of a new form of opera, which he called "musical drama" - in it all the musical and dramatic elements merged together. To this end, he developed a compositional style in which the orchestra plays the same strong dramatic role as the singers.

Wagner wrote his own librettos, which he called "poems." Most of Wagner's plots were based on European myths and legends. He is best known for his eighteen-hour cycle of epic operas in four parts entitled The Ring of the Nibelungen, the opera Tristan and Isolde, and the musical drama Parsifal.

Famous Russian composers

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

Glinka is usually spoken of as the founder of the Russian national tradition in music, however, his Russian operas offered a synthesis of Western music with Russian melodies. Glinka's first opera was A Life for the Tsar, which was well received when it was first staged in 1836, but the second opera, Ruslan and Lyudmila, with a libretto written by Pushkin, is not so massive. Nevertheless, she presented a new type of drama - the heroic-historical opera, or epic.

Glinka became the first Russian composer to achieve world recognition. The most famous works of Mikhail Ivanovich: opera "Ivan Susanin", waltz-fantasy for symphony orchestra and an overture-symphony on a circular Russian theme.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky is one of the most popular and famous composers around the world. For many, he is also the most beloved Russian composer. Tchaikovsky's works, however, are much more Western than those written by other composers, his contemporaries, since he also used Russian folk melodies and was guided by the legacy of German and Austrian composers. Tchaikovsky himself was not only a composer, but also a conductor, music teacher and critic.

No others famous composers Russia, perhaps, is not famous for creating ballet performances as Tchaikovsky is famous for. The most famous ballets by Tchaikovsky are: "The Nutcracker", " Swan Lake"And" Sleeping Beauty ". He also wrote operas; the most famous are “The Queen of Spades”, “Eugene Onegin”.

Sergei Vasilyevich Rahmaninov

The work of Sergei Vasilievich absorbed the traditions of post-romanticism and took shape in a style unique in the musical culture of the 20th century, unlike any other in the world. He has always gravitated towards large musical forms. Basically, his works are saturated with longing, drama, strength and rebellion; they often displayed images of the folk epic.

Rachmaninov was known not only as a composer, but also as a pianist, therefore, piano works occupy a significant place in his work. He began to learn piano sheet music at the age of four. The defining genre for Rachmaninoff was the concert for piano and orchestra. The most famous works of Rachmaninoff are the Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini and four concertos for piano and orchestra.

Famous composers of the world

Giuseppe Francesco Verdi

It is difficult to imagine the 19th century without the music of Giuseppe Verdi, one of the classics of Italian musical culture... Most of all, Verdi strove to bring musical realism to the opera production, he himself always worked directly with singers and librettists, interfered with the work of conductors and did not tolerate fake performances. He said that he liked everything that is beautiful in art.

Like many composers, Verdi gained his greatest popularity through the creation of operas. The most famous among them are the operas "Othello", "Aida", "Rigoletto".

Frederic Chopin

The most famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin has always illuminated the beauty of his native land in his works and believed in its greatness in the future. His name is the pride of the Polish people. Chopin excels in the field of classical music in that he wrote works only for piano performance, rather than others famous composers with their variety of symphonies and operas; now Chopin's works have become the basis for the creativity of today's pianists.

Chopin was engaged in writing piano pieces, nocturnes, mazurkas, etudes, waltzes, polonaises and other forms, and the most famous among them are "Autumn Waltz", Nocturne in C sharp minor, Spring Rhapsody, Impromptu Fantasy in C sharp minor.

Edvard Grieg

The famous Norwegian composer and musical figure Edvard Grieg specialized in chamber vocal and piano music. Grieg's work was significantly influenced by the legacy of German romanticism. Grieg's bright and recognizable style can be characterized by such a direction as musical impressionism.

Often, when creating his works, Grieg was inspired by folk tales, melodies, and legends. His work has had a huge impact on the development of Norwegian music culture and art in general. The most famous works of the composer are the "Autumn" overture, the concert for piano and orchestra of 1868, the music for the play "Peer Gynt", the suite "From Holberg's time".

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

And, of course, the most famous composers of all time cannot do without this name, which even people who are far from classical music know. An Austrian composer and virtuoso performer, Mozart created a number of operas, concerts, sonatas and symphonies that have had a tremendous impact on classical music and, in fact, shaped it.

He grew up as a child prodigy: he learned to play the piano at the age of three, and at the age of five he was already creating small pieces of music. The first symphony was written by him at the age of eight, the first opera at the age of twelve. Mozart had a phenomenal ear for music and an amazing ability to play many musical instruments and improvisation.

During his life, Mozart created more than six hundred pieces of music, some of the most famous of which are the opera "The Marriage of Figaro", Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter", the 3rd movement of Sonata No. 11 "Turkish March", a concert for flute and harp with orchestra and Requiem in D minor, K.626.

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Have you ever heard a good song somewhere and thought: “How great it would be to play it!”. Indeed, by knowing the basics of musical notation, you can discover endless musical possibilities. How to learn sheet music - find out in our article.

Among these melodies there is a motive for any mood: romantic, positive or dreary, in order to relax and not think about anything or, conversely, to collect thoughts.

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The Italian composer and pianist works in the direction of minimalism, often turns to ambient and skillfully combines the classics with other musical styles. He is known to a wide circle for atmospheric compositions that have become soundtracks for films. For example, you probably recognize the music from the French 1 + 1 tape, written by Einaudi.

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Glass is one of the most controversial personalities in the world of modern classics, who is sometimes lifted to heaven, then to smithereens. He has been with his own band, the Philip Glass Ensemble, for half a century and has written music for over 50 films, including The Truman Show, The Illusionist, Taste of Life and Fantastic Four. The melodies of the American minimalist composer blur the line between classical and popular music.

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He is the author of many soundtracks, the best film composer of 2008 according to the European Film Academy and a post-minimalist. Conquered critics with the first album Memoryhouse, in which Richter's music was superimposed on poetry reading, and in subsequent albums, fiction was also used. In addition to writing his own ambient compositions, Max arranges the works of the classics: Vivaldi's Four Seasons topped the iTunes charts in his arrangement.

This creator instrumental music from Italy is not associated with the sensational cinema, but without that he is known as a composer, virtuoso and an experienced piano teacher. If you describe the work of Marradi in two words, it will be the words "sensual" and "magical". His compositions and covers will appeal to those who love retroclassics: the notes of the last century shine through in the motives.

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The renowned film composer has created scores for many high-grossing films and cartoons, including Gladiator, Pearl Harbor, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, Interstellar, Madagascar, The Lion King. Its star flaunts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and on its shelf there are Oscars, Grammy and Golden Globes. Zimmer's music is as different as the films listed, but regardless of the key, it takes to the living.

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Hisaishi is one of the most famous Japanese composers, who has received four Japanese Academy Awards for Best Film Music. Joe became famous for writing the soundtrack for the anime "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli's creations or Takeshi Kitano's tapes, then you surely admire Hisaishi's music. It is mostly light and light.

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This Icelandic multi-instrumentalist is just a boy compared to the listed masters, but by his 30 years he managed to become a recognized neoclassicist. He has recorded an accompaniment to the ballet, won a BAFTA for the soundtrack for the British TV series Murder on the Beach, and released 10 studio albums. Arnalds' music is reminiscent of a harsh wind on a deserted seashore.

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Lee Rum's most famous works are Kiss the Rain and River Flows in You. The Korean New Age composer and pianist writes popular classics that can be understood by listeners on any continent, with any musical taste and education. His light and sensual melodies became the beginning of love for piano music for many.

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The American composer is interesting in that, but at the same time writes the most pleasant and quite popular music. O'Halloran's tunes have been featured on Top Gear and several films. Perhaps the most successful soundtrack album was for the melodrama "Like Crazy".

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This composer and pianist knows a lot about the art of conducting and how to create electronic music. But his main field is modern classics. Cacchapaglia has recorded numerous albums, three of them with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His music flows like water, it will be great to relax under it.

Classical composers are known all over the world. Each name of a musical genius is a unique individuality in the history of culture.

What is classical music

Classical music is enchanting melodies created by talented authors who are rightly called classical composers. Their works are unique and will always be in demand by performers and listeners. On the one hand, it is customary to call classical music austere, deeply meaningful music that does not belong to the directions: rock, jazz, folk, pop, chanson, etc. On the other hand, in the historical development of music there is a period of the late XIII - early XX century, called classicism.

Classical themes are distinguished by sublime intonation, sophistication, variety of shades and harmony. They have a positive effect on the emotional outlook of adults and children.

Development stages of classical music. Their brief description and main representatives

In the history of the development of classical music, the following stages can be distinguished:

• Renaissance or Renaissance - early 14th - last quarter of the 16th century. In Spain and England, the Renaissance period lasted until the early 17th century.
• Baroque - replaced the Renaissance and lasted until the beginning of the 18th century. The center of the style was Spain.
• Classicism is a period of development of European culture from the beginning of the 18th to the beginning of the 19th century.
• Romanticism is the opposite direction to classicism. It lasted until the middle of the 19th century.
• Classics of the 20th century - the modern era.

Brief description and main representatives of cultural periods

1. Renaissance - a long period of development of all areas of culture. - Tomass Tallis, Giovanni da Palestina, TL de Victoria composed and left immortal creations to posterity.

2. Baroque - in this era new musical forms appear: polyphony, opera. It was during this period that Bach, Handel, Vivaldi created their famous creations. Bach's fugues are built in accordance with the requirements of classicism: compulsory observance of the canons.

3. Classicism. Viennese classics-composers who created their immortal creations in the era of classicism: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven. The sonata form appears, the composition of the orchestra increases. and Haydn differ from the ponderous compositions of Bach by the simple structure and grace of the melodies. It was still a classic, striving for perfection. Beethoven's works are a facet of contact between romantic and classical styles. In L. van Beethoven's music, there is more sensuality and ardor than rational canon. Such important genres as symphony, sonata, suite, and opera were distinguished. Beethoven gave rise to the Romantic period.

4. Romanticism. Musical compositions are characterized by color and drama. Various song genres are formed, for example, ballads. The compositions for piano by Liszt and Chopin were recognized. The traditions of romanticism were inherited by Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Schubert.

5. Classics of the XX century - characterized by the desire of authors to innovate in melodies, the terms aleatoric, atonalism arose. The works of Stravinsky, Rachmaninov, Glass are classified in the classical format.

Russian classical composers

Tchaikovsky P.I. - Russian composer, music critic, public figure, teacher, conductor. His compositions are the most performed. They are sincere, easily perceived, reflect the poetic originality of the Russian soul, picturesque pictures of Russian nature. The composer has created 6 ballets, 10 operas, more than a hundred romances, 6 symphonies. World famous ballet "Swan Lake", opera "Eugene Onegin", "Children's Album".

Rachmaninov S.V. - the works of the outstanding composer are emotional and cheerful, and some are dramatic in content. Their genres are varied: from small plays to concerts and operas. The generally recognized works of the author: the operas The Miserly Knight, Aleko based on Pushkin's poem The Gypsies, Francesca da Rimini based on a plot borrowed from Dante's Divine Comedy, the poem The Bells; suite "Symphonic Dances"; piano concerts; vocalization for voice with piano accompaniment.

Borodin A.P. was a composer, teacher, chemist, doctor. The most significant creation is the opera "Prince Igor" historical work "The Word about Igor's Regiment", which was written by the author for almost 18 years. During his lifetime, Borodin did not manage to finish it, after his death the opera was completed by A. Glazunov and N. Rimsky-Korsakov. The great composer is the founder of classical quartets and symphonies in Russia. The "Heroic" symphony is considered the crown of the world and Russian national-heroic symphony. The instrumental chamber quartets I and II are recognized as outstanding. One of the first to introduce into romances heroic figures from Old Russian literature.

Great musicians

Mussorgsky M.P., about whom we can say, is a great realist composer, a bold innovator, touching upon acute social problems, an excellent pianist and an excellent vocalist. The most significant musical works are the opera "Boris Godunov" based on the dramatic work of A.S. Pushkin and "Khovanshchina" is a folk musical drama, the main character of these operas is a rebellious people from different social strata; creative cycle "Pictures at an Exhibition", inspired by the works of Hartmann.

Glinka M.I. - a famous Russian composer, the founder of the classical direction in Russian musical culture. He completed the procedure for creating a school of Russian composers based on the values \u200b\u200bof folk and professional music. The master's works are imbued with love for the Fatherland, reflect the ideological orientation of the people of that historical era. The world famous folk drama "Ivan Susanin" and the fairy tale opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila" became new trends in Russian opera. The symphonic works "Kamarinskaya" and "Spanish Overture" by Glinka are the foundations of Russian symphony.

Rimsky-Korsakov N.A. - a talented Russian composer, naval officer, teacher, publicist. Two trends can be traced in his work: the historical ("The Tsar's Bride", "The Pskovite Woman") and the fabulous ("Sadko", "The Snow Maiden", Suite "Scheherazade"). A distinctive feature of the composer's works: originality based on classical values, homophony in the harmonious structure of early works. His works have an author's signature: original orchestral solutions with unusually constructed vocal scores, which are the main ones.

Russian classical composers tried to reflect in their works the cognitive thinking and folklore characteristic of the nation.

European culture

Famous classical composers Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven lived in the capital of musical culture of that time - Vienna. Geniuses are united by masterful performance, excellent compositional solutions, the use of various musical styles: from folk tunes to polyphonic developments of musical themes. The great classics are characterized by an all-encompassing creative thinking activity, competence, clarity in the construction of musical forms. In their works, intellect and emotions, tragic and comic components, ease and prudence are organically linked together.

Beethoven and Haydn gravitated towards instrumental compositions, Mozart masterfully succeeded in both opera and orchestral compositions. Beethoven was an unsurpassed creator heroic worksHaydn appreciated and successfully used humor, folk-genre types in his work, Mozart was a universal composer.

Mozart is the creator of the sonata instrumental form. Beethoven improved it, brought it to unrivaled heights. The period became a period of quartet flourishing. Haydn, followed by Beethoven and Mozart, make a significant contribution to the development of this genre.

Italian masters

Giuseppe Verdi was an outstanding musician of the 19th century who developed traditional Italian opera. He possessed impeccable craftsmanship. The culmination of his composing activity was the operatic works "Troubadour", "La Traviata", "Othello", "Aida".

Niccolo Paganini - born in Nice, one of the most musically gifted personalities of the 18-19th century. Masterfully mastered the violin. He composed caprices, sonatas, quartets for violin, guitar, viola and cello. He wrote concertos for violin and orchestra.

Gioacchino Rossini - worked in the 19th century. The author of sacred and chamber music, composed 39 operas. Outstanding works - "The Barber of Seville", "Othello", "Cinderella", "The Thief Magpie", "Semiramis".

Antonio Vivaldi is one of the largest representatives of the violin art of the 18th century. He gained fame thanks to his most famous work - 4 violin concertos "The Seasons". Lived surprisingly fruitful creative life, composed 90 operas.

Famous Italian classical composers have left an eternal musical legacy. Their cantatas, sonatas, serenades, symphonies, operas will delight more than one generation.

Features of the child's perception of music

Listening to good music has a positive effect on the psycho-emotional development of a child, as child psychologists say. Good music introduces art and forms an aesthetic taste, as teachers say.

Many famous works were created by classical composers for children, taking into account their psychology, perception and the specifics of age, that is, for listening, while others composed various pieces for little performers that are easily perceived by ear and technically accessible to them.

"Children's Album" by PI Tchaikovsky for little pianists. This is a dedication album to his nephew who loved music and was a very gifted child. The collection contains more than 20 plays, some of them based on folklore material: Neapolitan motifs, Russian dance, Tyrolean and French melodies. Collection "Children's songs" by PI Tchaikovsky designed for auditory perception by a child audience. Songs of an optimistic mood about spring, birds, a blossoming garden ("My garden"), about compassion for Christ and God ("Christ had a garden with a baby").

Children's classics

Many classical composers worked for children, the list of works of which is very diverse.

Prokofiev S.S. "Petya and the Wolf" - symphonic tale for children. Thanks to this tale, children get to know the musical instruments of the symphony orchestra. The text of the tale was written by Prokofiev himself.

Schumann R. “Scenes of Children” are small musical stories with an unpretentious plot, written for adult performers, memories of childhood.

Cycle for piano by Debussy "Children's Corner".

Ravel M. "Mother Goose" based on the tales of Ch. Perrault.

Bartok B. "First Steps at the Piano".

Cycles for children S. Gavrilov "For the smallest"; "Heroes of Fairy Tales"; "Children about animals".

Shostakovich D. “Album of Piano Pieces for Children”.

Bach I.S. "Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach". While teaching music to his children, he created special plays and exercises for them to develop technical skills.

Haydn J. - progenitor classical symphony... Created a special symphony called "Children's". The instruments used: clay nightingale, ratchet, cuckoo - give it an unusual sound, childish and perky.

Saint-Saens K. came up with a fantasy for orchestra and 2 pianos called "Carnival of Animals", in which he masterfully conveyed the cackling of chickens, the roar of a lion, the elephant's complacency and his manner of movement, a touchingly graceful swan with musical means.

When composing compositions for kids and youth, the great classical composers took care of the interesting plot lines of the work, the availability of the proposed material, taking into account the age of the performer or listener.

It is safe to say about each of them that he is the greatest composer who has ever been, although in fact it is impossible, and indeed impossible, to compare the music written over several centuries. However, all of these composers stand out from their contemporaries as composers who composed music of the highest standard and sought to push the boundaries of classical music to new limits. The list does not contain any order, such as importance or personal preference. Just 10 Great Composers You Should Know.

1. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) The most important figure in world classical music. One of the most performed and respected composers in the world. He worked in all genres that existed in his time, including opera, ballet, music for dramatic performances, choral compositions. The most significant in his heritage are instrumental works: piano, violin and cello sonatas, concertos for piano, violin, quartets, overtures, symphonies. The founder of the romantic period in classical music.

Interesting fact: Beethoven first wanted to dedicate his third symphony (1804) to Napoleon, the composer was fascinated by this man, who seemed to many at the beginning of his reign to be a real hero. But when Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, Beethoven crossed out his dedication to Napoleon on the title page and wrote only one word - "Heroic".

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata:

2. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) German composer and organist, representative of the Baroque era. One of the greatest composers in the history of music. During his life, Bach wrote over 1000 works. All significant genres of that time are represented in his work, except for opera; he summarized the achievements of the musical art of the Baroque period. The founder of the most famous musical dynasty.

Interesting fact: During his lifetime, Bach was so underestimated that less than a dozen of his works were published.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S.Bach:

3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) The great Austrian composer, instrumentalist and conductor, a representative of the Vienna Classical School, a virtuoso violinist, harpsichordist, organist, conductor, he had a phenomenal ear for music, memory and the ability to improvise. As a composer who excelled in any genre, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in the history of classical music.

Interesting fact: As a child, Mozart memorized and recorded Miserere (a Catholic chant to the text of the 50th Psalm of David) by the Italian Gregorio Allegri, having listened to it only once.

Mozart's Little Night Serenade:

4. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) German composer, conductor, playwright, philosopher. He had a significant impact on European culture at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, especially modernism. Wagner's operas amaze with their grandiose scale and eternal human values.

Interesting fact: Wagner took part in the failed revolution of 1848-1849 in Germany, and was forced to escape from the arrest of Franz Liszt.

"Flight of the Valkyries" from Wagner's opera "Valkyrie":

5. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian composer, one of the best melodists, conductor, teacher, music critic. His works have made an invaluable contribution to world musical culture. One of the most popular composers among lovers of classical music, Tchaikovsky's unique style successfully combines the Western symphonic heritage of Beethoven and Schumann with the Russian traditions inherited from Mikhail Glinka.

Interesting fact: From his youth, Tchaikovsky had an irresistible thirst for knowledge, and in various fields. So, one of the first among his contemporaries, he got acquainted with a new invention of the 19th century, which was destined for a great future. It was Edison's phonograph that ushered in the era of recording.

"Waltz of the Flowers" from Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker":

6. Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Italian composer, central figure of the Italian opera school. Verdi had a sense of the stage, temperament and impeccable skill. He did not deny opera traditions (in contrast to Wagner), but on the contrary developed them (the traditions of Italian opera), he transformed Italian opera, filled it with realism, gave it the unity of a whole.

Fun fact: Verdi was an Italian nationalist and was elected to the first Italian parliament in 1860, after Italy's independence from Austria.

Overture to Verdi's opera La Traviata:

7.Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971) Russian (American - after emigration) composer, conductor, pianist. One of the most important composers of the twentieth century. Stravinsky's work is unified throughout his entire career, although the style of his works was different at different periods, but the core and Russian roots remained, which were manifested in all his works, he is considered one of the leading innovators of the twentieth century. His innovative use of rhythm and harmony has inspired and inspires many musicians, and not only in classical music.

Interesting fact: During the First World War, Roman customs officers confiscated the portrait of Stravinsky, created by Pablo Picasso, when the composer was leaving Italy. The portrait was painted in a futuristic manner and the customs officers mistook these circles and lines for some kind of encrypted classified material.

Suite from Stravinsky's ballet "The Firebird":

8. Johann Strauss (1825-1899) Austrian light music composer, conductor and violinist. "The King of Waltzes" - he worked in the genre of dance music and oppert. His musical heritage includes more than 500 waltzes, pollekas, quadrilles and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas and ballets. Thanks to him, the waltz became extremely popular in Vienna in the 19th century.

Interesting fact: Father of Johann Strauss is also Johann and also a famous musician, and therefore the "king of waltz" is called the younger or the son, his brothers Joseph and Edward were also famous composers.

Strauss' waltz "On the beautiful blue Danube":

9.Sergey Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Russian composer, pianist and conductor, the largest representatives of Russian and world musical culture of the late XIX - early XX centuries. Rachmaninov's style, which grew out of late romanticism, goes far beyond the post-romantic tradition and at the same time does not belong to any of the stylistic trends of the musical avant-garde of the 20th century. Rachmaninoff's work stands out in the world music of the 20th century, his style remained uniquely individual and original, having no analogues in world art.

Interesting fact: The premiere of Rachmaninoff's First Symphony ended in complete failure, both due to poor performance and due to the innovative nature of the music, which was far ahead of its time. This event caused a serious nervous illness.

Rachmaninov Concert Piano Concerto 4 - Movement 1:

10. Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) Austrian composer, one of the prominent representatives of the Viennese classical music school and one of the founders of romanticism in music. During his short life, Schubert made significant contributions to orchestral, chamber and piano music, which influenced an entire generation of composers. However, his most striking contribution was to the development of German romances, of which he created more than 600.

Fun fact: Schubert's friends and fellow musicians got together and performed Schubert's music. These meetings were called "Schubertiads" (Schubertiads). Some kind of first fan club!

Ave Maria Schubert: