What foreign composers do you know? The most famous composers in the world

Here is a list of 10 composers you should know. Of each of them it can be said with certainty that he is the greatest composer who ever lived, although in fact it is impossible, and indeed impossible, to compare music written over several centuries. However, all of these composers stand out among their contemporaries as composers who composed music of the highest caliber 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.

Each composer is accompanied by a quotable fact of his life, remembering which you will look like an expert. And by clicking on the link to the last name, you will find out his full biography. And of course, you can listen to one of the significant works of each master.

The most important figure in world classical music. One of the most performed and respected composers in the world. He created in all genres that existed in his time, including opera, ballet, music for dramatic performances, and choral works. The most significant in his legacy are considered to be 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 captivated by the personality of this man, who seemed to many at the beginning of his reign a real hero. But when Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, Beethoven crossed out his dedication on the title page and wrote only one word - “Heroic”.

"Moonlight Sonata" by L. Beethoven, listen:

2. (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 more than 1000 works. His work represents all the significant genres of that time, except opera; he summarized the achievements of musical art of the Baroque period. The founder of the most famous musical dynasty.

Interesting fact.

During his lifetime, Bach was so underrated that less than a dozen of his works were published.

Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J. S. Bach, listen:

3. (1756-1791)

The great Austrian composer, instrumentalist and conductor, representative of the Vienna Classical School, 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 rightfully considered one of the greatest composers in the history of classical music.

Interesting fact.

While still a child, Mozart memorized and recorded the Miserere (cat. chant on the text of the 50th Psalm of David) by the Italian Gregorio Allegri, having listened to it only once.

"Little Night Serenade" by W.A. Mozart, listen:

4. (1813-1883)

German composer, conductor, playwright, philosopher. He had a significant influence on European culture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, especially modernism. Wagner's operas are stunning in 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 hide from arrest by Franz Liszt.

"Ride of the Valkyries" from R. Wagner's opera "Walkyrie", listen

5. (1840-1893)

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

Interesting fact.

Verdi was an Italian nationalist and was elected to the first Italian parliament in 1860, following the declaration of Italian independence from Austria.

Overture to D. Verdi's opera "La Traviata", listen:

7. Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Russian (American - after emigration) composer, conductor, pianist. One of the most significant composers of the twentieth century. Stravinsky's creativity is consistent throughout his entire career, although the style of his works was different in different periods, but the core and Russian roots remained, which were evident 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 continues to inspire many musicians, not just in classical music.

Interesting fact.

During World War I, Roman customs officers confiscated Pablo Picasso's portrait of Stravinsky as the composer was leaving Italy. The portrait was painted in a futuristic manner and customs officers mistook these circles and lines for some kind of encrypted secret materials.

Suite from I.F. Stravinsky's ballet "Firebird", listen:

8. Johann Strauss (1825-1899)

Austrian composer of light music, conductor and violinist. "King of Waltzes", he created in the genre of dance music and operetta. His musical heritage includes more than 500 waltzes, polkas, 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.

Johann Strauss's father is also Johann and also a famous musician, so the "Waltz King" is called the youngest or son, his brothers Joseph and Eduard were also famous composers.

Waltz by J. Strauss "On the Beautiful Blue Danube", listen:

9. Sergei Vasilyevich Rahmaninov (1873-1943)

Austrian composer, one of the outstanding 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 that 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.

Interesting fact.

Schubert's friends and fellow musicians would get together and perform Schubert's music. These meetings were called "Schubertiads". Some first fan club!

"Ave Maria" by F.P.Schubert, listen:

Continuing the theme of great composers you should know, new material.

The World's Greatest Composers of All Time: Lists in Chronological and Alphabetical Order, Reference Books and Works

100 Great Composers of the World

List of composers in chronological order

1. Josquin Despres (1450 –1521)
2. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525 –1594)
3. Claudio Monteverdi (1567 –1643)
4. Heinrich Schütz (1585 –1672)
5. Jean Baptiste Lully (1632 –1687)
6. Henry Purcell (1658 –1695)
7. Arcangelo Corelli (1653 –1713)
8. Antonio Vivaldi (1678 –1741)
9. Jean Philippe Rameau (1683 –1764)
10. George Handel (1685 –1759)
11. Domenico Scarlatti (1685 –1757)
12. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 –1750)
13. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1713 –1787)
14. Joseph Haydn (1732 –1809)
15. Antonio Salieri (1750 –1825)
16. Dmitry Stepanovich Bortnyansky (1751 –1825)
17. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 –1791)
18. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 –1826)
19. Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778 –1837)
20. Nicollo Paganini (1782 –1840)
21. Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791 –1864)
22. Carl Maria von Weber (1786 –1826)
23. Gioachino Rossini (1792 –1868)
24. Franz Schubert (1797 –1828)
25. Gaetano Donizetti (1797 –1848)
26. Vincenzo Bellini (1801 –1835)
27. Hector Berlioz (1803 –1869)
28. Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka (1804 –1857)
29. Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809 –1847)
30. Fryderyk Chopin (1810 –1849)
31. Robert Schumann (1810 –1856)
32. Alexander Sergeevich Dargomyzhsky (1813 –1869)
33. Franz Liszt (1811 –1886)
34. Richard Wagner (1813 –1883)
35. Giuseppe Verdi (1813 –1901)
36. Charles Gounod (1818 –1893)
37. Stanislav Moniuszko (1819 –1872)
38. Jacques Offenbach (1819 –1880)
39. Alexander Nikolaevich Serov (1820 –1871)
40. Cesar Frank (1822 –1890)
41. Bedřich Smetana (1824 –1884)
42. Anton Bruckner (1824 –1896)
43. Johann Strauss (1825 –1899)
44. Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein (1829 –1894)
45. Johannes Brahms (1833 –1897)
46. ​​Alexander Porfirievich Borodin (1833 –1887)
47. Camille Saint-Saens (1835 –1921)
48. Leo Delibes (1836 –1891)
49. Mily Alekseevich Balakirev (1837 –1910)
50. Georges Bizet (1838 –1875)
51. Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (1839 –1881)
52. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 –1893)
53. Antonin Dvorak (1841 –1904)
54. Jules Massenet (1842 –1912)
55. Edvard Grieg (1843 –1907)
56. Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 –1908)
57. Gabriel Fauré (1845 –1924)
58. Leos Janacek (1854 –1928)
59. Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov (1855 –1914)
60. Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (1856 –1915)
61. Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857 –1919)
62. Giacomo Puccini (1858 –1924)
63. Hugo Wolf (1860 –1903)
64. Gustav Mahler (1860 –1911)
65. Claude Debussy (1862 –1918)
66. Richard Strauss (1864 –1949)
67. Alexander Tikhonovich Grechaninov (1864 –1956)
68. Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov (1865 –1936)
69. Jean Sibelius (1865 –1957)
70. Franz Lehár (1870 –1945)
71. Alexander Nikolaevich Scriabin (1872 –1915)
72. Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninov (1873 –1943)
73. Arnold Schoenberg (1874 –1951)
74. Maurice Ravel (1875 –1937)
75. Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (1880 –1951)
76. Bela Bartok (1881 –1945)
77. Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky (1881 –1950)
78. Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky (1882 –1971)
79. Anton Webern (1883 –1945)
80. Imre Kalman (1882 –1953)
81. Alban Berg (1885 –1935)
82. Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev (1891 –1953)
83. Arthur Honegger (1892 –1955)
84. Darius Milhaud (1892 –1974)
85. Carl Orff (1895 –1982)
86. Paul Hindemith (1895 –1963)
87. George Gershwin (1898 –1937)
88. Isaac Osipovich Dunaevsky (1900 –1955)
89. Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (1903 –1978)
90. Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich (1906 –1975)
91. Tikhon Nikolaevich Khrennikov (born in 1913)
92. Benjamin Britten (1913 –1976)
93. Georgy Vasilievich Sviridov (1915 –1998)
94. Leonard Bernstein (1918 –1990)
95. Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin (born in 1932)
96. Krzysztof Penderecki (born 1933)
97. Alfred Garievich Schnittke (1934 –1998)
98. Bob Dylan (b. 1941)
99. John Lennon (1940–1980) and Paul McCartney (b. 1942)
100. Sting (born 1951)

MASTERPIECES OF CLASSICAL MUSIC

The most famous composers in the world

List of composers in alphabetical order

Great composers, whose names are widely known throughout the world, have created a huge number of valuable works. Their creations are truly unique. Each of them has an individual and unique style.

Great composers of the world (foreign). List

Below are foreign composers from different centuries, whose names are known throughout the world. This:

• A. Vivaldi.
• J. S. Bach.
• W. A. ​​Mozart.
• I. Brahms.
• J. Haydn.
• R. Schumann.
• F. Schubert.
• L. Beethoven.
• I. Strauss.
• R. Wagner.
• G. Verdi.
• A. Berg.
• A. Schoenberg.
• J. Gershwin.
• O. Messiaen.
• C. Ives.
• B. Britten.

Great composers of the world (Russian). List

He created a large number of operettas, worked with light musical forms of a dance nature, in which he was very successful. Thanks to Strauss, the waltz became an extremely popular dance in Vienna. By the way, balls are still held there. The composer's heritage includes polkas, ballets and quadrilles.

And G. Verdi are great who created a huge number of operas that won the sincere love of the audience.

The German Richard Wagner was the most prominent representative of modernism in the music of this century. His opera heritage is rich. Tannhäuser, Lohengrin, The Flying Dutchman and other operas are still relevant, popular and performed on stage.

The Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi is quite a majestic figure. He gave Italian opera a new breath, while remaining true to operatic traditions.

Russian composers of the 19th century

M. I. Glinka, A. P. Borodin, M. P. Mussorgsky, P. I. Tchaikovsky are the great composers of classical music of the 19th century who lived and created their works in Russia.

The works of Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka have determined national and world significance in the history of Russian music. His work, which grew up on Russian folk songs, is deeply national. He is rightfully considered an innovator, the founder of Russian musical classics. Glinka worked fruitfully in all of his operas “Ivan Susanin” (“Life for the Tsar”) and “Ruslan and Lyudmila” opened the way for two leading directions. His symphonic works were also of great importance in the development of musical art: “Kamarinskaya”, “Waltz-Fantasy” and many others.

Alexander Porfirievich Borodin is a great Russian composer. His work is small in volume, but significant in content. The central place is occupied by heroic historical images. He closely intertwines deep lyricism with epic breadth. The opera “Prince Igor” combines the features of folk musical drama and epic opera. His first and second symphonies mark a new direction in Russian symphony - heroic-epic. In the field of chamber vocal lyrics, he became a true innovator. His romances: “The Sea”, “For the Shores of the Distant Fatherland”, “Song of the Dark Forest” and many others. Borodin had a significant influence on his followers.

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky is another great Russian composer of the 19th century. He was a member of the Balakirev circle, which was called the “Mighty Handful”. He worked fruitfully in a variety of genres. His operas are wonderful: “Khovanshchina”, “Boris Godunov”, “Sorochinskaya Fair”. His works revealed traits of creative individuality. He owns a number of romances: “Kalistrat”, “Seminarist”, “Lullaby to Eremushka”, “Orphan”, “Svetik Savishna”. They capture unique national characters.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - composer, conductor, teacher.

Opera and symphonic genres were leading in his work. The content of his music is universal. His operas “The Queen of Spades” and “Eugene Onegin” are masterpieces of Russian classical music. The symphony also occupies a central place in his work. His works became known throughout the world during his lifetime.

Representatives of the new Viennese school

A. Berg, A. Webern, A. Schoenberg are great composers who lived and created their works throughout the 20th century.

Alban Berg became world famous thanks to his amazing opera Wozzeck, which made a strong impression on listeners. He wrote it over several years. Its premiere took place on December 14, 1925. At the moment, Wozzeck is a classic example of 20th century opera.

Anton Webern is an Austrian composer, one of the brightest representatives of the new Viennese school. In his works he used serial and dodecaphonic techniques. He is characterized by conciseness and laconicism of thought, concentration of musical and expressive means. His work had a profound influence on Stravinsky, Boulez, Gubaidulina and many other Russian and foreign composers.

Arnold Schoenberg is a prominent representative of such a musical style as expressionism. Author of serial and dodecaphonic techniques. His compositions: Second String Quartet (F-sharp minor), "Drama with music for choir and orchestra", the opera "Moses and Aaron" and many others.

J. Gershwin, O. Messiaen, C. Ives

These are the great composers of the 20th century who are famous all over the world.

George Gershwin is an American composer and pianist. He became extremely popular thanks to his large-scale work Porgy and Bess. This is a “folklore” opera. It is based on the novel by DuBose Hayward. His instrumental works are no less famous: “Rhapsody in Blue for Piano and Orchestra”, “An American in Paris”, “Second Rhapsody” and many others.

Olivier Messiaen is a French composer, organist, teacher, and music theorist. In his remarkable theoretical works, he outlined new and quite complex principles of musical composition. Theological ideas were reflected in his works. He was very fascinated by the voices of birds. So he created “Bird Catalog” for piano.

Charles Ives is an American composer. His work was influenced by folk music. Therefore, his style is extremely unique. He created five symphonies, five violin sonatas, two piano sonatas, the cantata “Heavenly Country” and many other works.

Russian composers of the 20th century

S. S. Prokofiev, I. F. Stravinsky, D. D. Shostakovich are the great composers of the 20th century.

Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev - composer, conductor, pianist.

His music is varied in content. It contains lyrics and epic, humor and drama, psychologism and characterization. Opera and ballet creativity laid down new principles and techniques of musical dramaturgy. His operas are “The Gambler”, “The Love for Three Oranges”, “War and Peace”. Prokofiev worked in the genre of film music. His cantata “Alexander Nevsky”, created in collaboration with director S. Eisenstein, is widely known.

Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky - emigrant composer, conductor.

His work is divided into Russian and foreign periods. His brightest ballets: “Petrushka”, “The Rite of Spring”, “Firebird”. Stravinsky also made a great contribution to the symphonic genre.

Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich - composer, teacher, pianist. His work is multifaceted in genres and figurative content. Particularly important is his importance as a composer-symphonist. His fifteen symphonies reflect the complex world of human feelings with experiences, struggles, and tragic conflicts. His opera “Katerina Izmailova” is an excellent composition of this genre.

Conclusion

The music of great composers is written in different genres, contains multifaceted plots, constantly updated techniques corresponding to a particular era. Some composers have achieved excellence in a few genres, while others have successfully covered almost all fields. Of the entire galaxy of great composers, it is difficult to single out the best. All of them made a significant contribution to the history of world musical culture.

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Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) German composer and organist. Founder of modern music. His name is regularly mentioned in lists of the most famous composers in the world. He created works in all genres known at that time, except opera: cantatas, music for organ, violin and piano. His works lend themselves easily to modern instrumental processing. Bach's creative legacy is enormous. During his life, Bach wrote more than 1000 works.

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827) Great German composer, conductor and pianist, one of the three “Viennese classics”. The main theme of Beethoven's work can be called the idea of ​​a heroic struggle for freedom, consonant with the revolutionary era. At the same time, his music also conveys the most subtle lyrical experiences. Creativity: “Elise”, “Moonlight Sonata No. 14”, symphonies No. 5, No. 9, “Egmont Overture”.

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Georges Bizet (1838 - 1875) French composer of the Romantic period, author of orchestral works, romances, piano pieces, as well as operas, the most famous of which was Carmen. The uniqueness of the great composer's work was expressed not only in the highest merits of his works, but also in Bizet's deep understanding of theatrical music. Creativity: “Carmen”, “Carmen – Suite”, “Pearl Finders”, etc.

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Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901) Italian composer, whose work is one of the greatest achievements of world opera and the culmination of the development of Italian opera of the 19th century. The composer created 26 operas and one requiem. The composer's best operas: “Un Ballo in Masquerade”, “Rigoletto”, “Il Trovatore”, “La Traviata”. The pinnacle of creativity is the latest operas: “Aida”, “Othello”, “Falstaff”.

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Antonio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741) Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, teacher, conductor, Catholic priest. Vivaldi is considered one of the largest representatives of Italian violin art of the 18th century; during his lifetime he received wide recognition throughout Europe. Known for his instrumental concertos, especially for violin. His most famous work is the cycle of four violin concertos “The Four Seasons”. Author of more than 40 operas.

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Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907) Norwegian composer of the Romantic period, musical figure, pianist, conductor. Grieg's work was formed under the influence of Norwegian folk culture. Among Grieg's most famous works are two suites from the music to Henrik Ibsen's drama Peer Gynt, a piano concerto, and violin sonatas. Author of music for the plays "Morning", "In the Cave of the Mountain King", "Solveig's Song".

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Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) German composer, pianist, conductor, teacher of Jewish origin. One of the largest representatives of romanticism in music, author of the famous wedding march. Head of the Leipzig School of German music, founder of the Leipzig Conservatory. Mendelssohn's merits as a conductor are also great.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 – 1791) Austrian composer and virtuoso musician. One of the most popular classical composers, Mozart had a great influence on world musical culture. According to contemporaries, Mozart had a phenomenal ear for music, memory and the ability to improvise. Creativity: “The Magic Flute”, “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Symphony No. 40”, “Symphony No. 6”, “Requiem”, etc.

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Niccolo Paganini (1782 - 1840) Italian virtuoso violinist and guitarist, composer. One of the most prominent personalities in the musical history of the 18th-19th centuries. Paganini was a true virtuoso with a highly individual personality, basing his playing on original techniques, which he performed with infallible purity and confidence. Paganini owned a precious collection of Stradivarius and Guarneri violins. He wrote about 200 pieces for guitar. Among his works, the “24 Caprices” for violin solo are especially famous.

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Fryderyk Chopin (1810 – 1849) Polish composer and virtuoso pianist, teacher. Author of numerous works for piano. The largest representative of Polish musical art. He reinterpreted many genres: he revived the prelude on a romantic basis, created a piano ballad, poeticized and dramatized dances: mazurka, polonaise, waltz. Creativity: 3 sonatas, 4 ballads, 27 etudes, 17 waltzes (No. 7), 60 mazurkas, 16 polonaises.

What would our life be like without music? For many years, people have asked themselves this question and come to the conclusion that without the beautiful sounds of music, the world would be a very different place. Music helps us feel joy more fully, find our inner self and cope with difficulties. Composers, working on their works, were inspired by a variety of things: love, nature, war, happiness, sadness and much more. Some of the musical compositions they created will forever remain in the hearts and memories of people. Here is a list of ten of the greatest and most talented composers of all time. Under each composer you will find a link to one of his most famous works.

10 PHOTO (VIDEO)

Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer who lived only 32 years, but his music will live on for a very long time. Schubert wrote nine symphonies, about 600 vocal compositions, and a large amount of chamber and solo piano music.

"Evening Serenade"

German composer and pianist, author of two serenades, four symphonies, as well as concerts for violin, piano and cello. He performed at concerts from the age of ten, and gave his first solo concert at the age of 14. During his lifetime, he gained popularity primarily due to the waltzes and Hungarian dances he wrote.

"Hungarian Dance No. 5".

George Frideric Handel was a German and English composer of the Baroque era; he wrote about 40 operas, many organ concerts, and chamber music. Handel's music has been played at the coronations of English kings since 973, it is also heard at royal wedding ceremonies and is even used as the anthem of the UEFA Champions League (with a small arrangement).

"Music on the water"

Joseph Haydn is a famous and prolific Austrian composer of the classical era, he is called the father of the symphony, as he made significant contributions to the development of this musical genre. Joseph Haydn is the author of 104 symphonies, 50 piano sonatas, 24 operas and 36 concertos

"Symphony No. 45".

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is the most famous Russian composer, author of more than 80 works, including 10 operas, 3 ballets and 7 symphonies. He was very popular and known as a composer during his lifetime, and performed in Russia and abroad as a conductor.

"Waltz of the Flowers" from the ballet "The Nutcracker".

Frédéric François Chopin is a Polish composer who is also considered one of the best pianists of all time. He wrote many pieces of music for piano, including 3 sonatas and 17 waltzes.

"Rain waltz".

Venetian composer and virtuoso violinist Antonio Lucio Vivaldi is the author of more than 500 concertos and 90 operas. He had a huge influence on the development of Italian and world violin art.

"Elf Song".

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is an Austrian composer who amazed the world with his talent from early childhood. Already at the age of five, Mozart was composing short plays. In total, he wrote 626 works, including 50 symphonies and 55 concertos. 9.Beethoven 10.Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer and organist of the Baroque era, known as a master of polyphony. He is the author of more than 1000 works, which include almost all significant genres of that time.

"Musical joke"