Author's composers. Great classical composers: a list of the best. Russian classical composers. Representatives of the new Viennese school

Almost every resident of a civilized society is probably aware of the benefits of classical music; scientists have long proven its positive impact on psychological state person.

A classic is a classic for that reason, it remains immortal forever, each new generation has its own admirers of this trend, while classical music progresses, develops and transforms, while always remaining at the proper level.

Among the impressive variety of composers of the past and present, I would like to highlight ten of those whose names have already gone down in history, because they managed to compose music of the highest level, which significantly expanded the boundaries of classical sounds, reaching a new level of beauty.

This time our top 10 will not contain numbers and places of honor, because we will evaluate and compare the greatest and, to hide it, the most famous composers in the world, whose names, in fact, should be minimally familiar to everyone educated person, somehow stupid.

Therefore, we present to you their names, as well as several interesting facts from the biography, without numbers and comparisons. If you are not yet an active fan of classical music, then listen, at least for the sake of interest, to several works of these great composers, and you will understand that music that has inspired dozens of generations cannot be ordinary or, even worse, boring.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Today he is one of the most respected, popular and performed composers in the world. Beethoven wrote in all musical genres known at that time, but it is believed that the most significant among his works are his instrumental creations, including concertos for violin and piano, symphonies, overtures and sonatas.

Little Beethoven grew up in a musical family, and therefore from a very young age he was taught to play the harpsichord, organ, flute and violin. In the last few years of his life, Beethoven lost his hearing, amazingly, but this did not stop him from writing a whole series of unique works, including the famous Ninth Symphony.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Famous and loved around the world German composer, which is a prominent representative Baroque era. In total, he wrote about 1000 musical works which were presented by all significant genres of that era, except opera.

Among Johann Bach's closest relatives and ancestors there were many professional musicians; he himself became the founder of one of the most famous dynasties. Surprisingly, Bach did not receive a special calling during his lifetime; interest in his work increased a whole century after his death.

Some connoisseurs argue that Bach's music is too gloomy and gloomy, however, according to followers of his work, it is rather thorough and fundamental.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

The greatest Austrian composer, who is rightly called the genius of his craft: Mozart had a truly phenomenal ear, the ability to improvise, memory, and also proved himself as a talented conductor, virtuoso violinist, organist and harpsichordist.

He composed more than 600 musical works, many of which are recognized as the pinnacle of chamber, concert, opera and symphonic music. It is believed that Mozart's music has a special healing effect; it is recommended for listening to pregnant and nursing mothers.

Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

The most famous German composer, who is considered the most influential reformer of opera, he had a tremendous influence on German and European musical culture as a whole.

Wagner's operas never cease to amaze, amaze, inspire, and also shock with their incredible scale, which fit into eternal human values.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Who is not yet familiar with the most famous ballet Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker"? Then you definitely need to do this! Pyotr Ilyich is one of the best Russian composers of all time, who, thanks to his musical works, was able to make an invaluable contribution to society musical culture all over the world.

Franz Schubert/ Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828)

Another famous Austrian composer, honored musical genius, as well as the author of the best song compositions of his time. During his career, Schubert managed to write more than 600 compositions, which were based on poems by more than 100 famous poets.

Unfortunately, Franz lived completely short life, only 31 years old, who knows how many more beautiful and great things this brilliant man could have created. Some works of the brilliant author were published only after his death, because Schubert left behind many unpublished manuscripts with unique musical creations.

Johann Strauss/ Johann Strauß (1825-1899)

The recognized “king of the waltz”, a brilliant Austrian composer, virtuoso violinist and conductor, who worked in the genre of operetta and dance music all his life.

He wrote about 500 waltzes, quadrilles, polkas and other types of dance music; by the way, it was thanks to him that the waltz rose to the top of its popularity in the 19th century in Vienna. Another interesting fact is that Johann Strauss is the son of a famous Austrian composer, whose name was also Johann.

Frederic Chopin / Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849)

Without exaggeration, it will be said that this is the most famous Pole in the field of classical music, who in his work tirelessly praised his homeland, the beauty of its landscapes, and also dreamed of its future greatness.

Unique is the fact that Chopin is one of the few composers who created music exclusively for the piano; in his work you will not find either symphonies or operas. It is the works of this brilliant composer that form the basis for the work of many modern pianists.

Giuseppe Francesco Verdi / Giuseppe Francesco Verdi (1813-1901)

Giuseppe Verdi, first of all, is known throughout the world for his operas, among which a special place is occupied by dramatic works. His legacy as the greatest composer can hardly be overestimated, because his music made a huge contribution to the development of Italian and world opera in general.

Verdi's works are considered incredibly emotional, burning, passionate, interesting, emotions are seething in them and life is seething. And today, despite the century-old age of most of his operas, they remain one of the most performed, popular and famous among classical music lovers.

Hans Zimmer / Hans Zimmer (September 12, 1957)

A famous German composer of our time, who gained wide popularity thanks to his works written for computer games and famous films. Of course, it is difficult to compare modern composers with the geniuses of the past who have strengthened their fame through the centuries, however, they deserve our attention.

Hans' music can be completely diverse: tender, touching, exciting, cruel and exciting; you have probably heard many of his melodies, but did not know who their author was. You can hear the creations of this author in such films and cartoons as “The Lion King”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Pearl Harbor”, “Rain Man” and others.

The Russian school of composition, the continuation of whose traditions became the Soviet and today's Russian schools, began in the 19th century with composers who united the European musical art with Russian folk melodies, tying together European uniform and the Russian spirit.

About each of these famous people you can tell a lot, everyone is not simple, and sometimes tragic fates, but in this review we tried to give only brief description life and work of composers.

1. Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

(1804-1857)

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka during the composition of the opera “Ruslan and Lyudmila”. 1887, artist Ilya Efimovich Repin

“To create beauty, you yourself must be pure in soul.”

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka is the founder of Russian classical music and the first Russian classical composer to achieve world fame. His works, based on the centuries-old traditions of Russian folk music, were a new word in the musical art of our country.

Born in the Smolensk province, he received his education in St. Petersburg. The formation of the worldview and the main idea of ​​​​Mikhail Glinka’s work was facilitated by direct communication with such personalities as A.S. Pushkin, V.A. Zhukovsky, A.S. Griboyedov, A.A. Delvig. The creative impetus for his work was added by a long-term trip to Europe in the early 1830s and meetings with the leading composers of the time - V. Bellini, G. Donizetti, F. Mendelssohn and later with G. Berlioz, J. Meyerbeer.

Success came to M.I. Glinka in 1836, after the production of the opera “Ivan Susanin” (“Life for the Tsar”), which was enthusiastically received by everyone; for the first time in world music, Russian choral art and European symphonic and operatic practice were organically combined, and a hero like Susanin also appeared, whose image summarizes the best features of the national character.

V.F. Odoevsky described the opera as “a new element in Art, and a new period begins in its history - the period of Russian music.”

The second opera is the epic “Ruslan and Lyudmila” (1842), work on which was carried out against the backdrop of Pushkin’s death and in the difficult living conditions of the composer, due to the deeply innovative nature of the work, was received ambiguously by the audience and the authorities, and brought difficult times for M.I. Glinka experiences. After that, he traveled a lot, alternately living in Russia and abroad, without stopping composing. His legacy includes romances, symphonic and chamber works. In the 1990s, Mikhail Glinka's "Patriotic Song" was the official anthem of the Russian Federation.

Quote about M.I. Glinka:“All Russian symphony school, like the whole oak tree in an acorn, is enclosed in symphonic fantasy"Kamarinskaya". P.I.Tchaikovsky

Interesting fact: Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka was no different good health, despite this, he was very easy-going and knew geography very well; perhaps, if he had not become a composer, he would have become a traveler. He knew six foreign languages, including Persian.

2. Alexander Porfirievich Borodin

(1833-1887)

Alexander Porfirievich Borodin, one of the leading Russian composers of the second half of the 19th century, in addition to his talent as a composer, was a chemist, doctor, teacher, critic and had literary talent.

Born in St. Petersburg, from childhood everyone around him noted his unusual activity, passion and abilities in various directions, primarily in music and chemistry.

A.P. Borodin is a Russian composer-nugget, he had no professional music teachers, all his achievements in music thanks to independent work on mastering compositing techniques.

The formation of A.P. Borodin was influenced by the work of M.I. Glinka (as indeed all Russian composers of the 19th century), and the impetus for intensive study of composition in the early 1860s was given by two events - firstly, his acquaintance and marriage with the talented pianist E.S. Protopopova, and secondly, a meeting with M.A. Balakirev and joining the creative community of Russian composers, known as the “Mighty Handful”.

In the late 1870s and 1880s, A.P. Borodin traveled and toured a lot in Europe and America, met with leading composers of his time, his fame grew, he became one of the most famous and popular Russian composers in Europe at the end of the 19th century. th century.

The central place in the work of A.P. Borodin is occupied by the opera “Prince Igor” (1869-1890), which is an example of national heroic epic in music and which he himself did not have time to complete (it was completed by his friends A.A. Glazunov and N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov). In “Prince Igor”, against the backdrop of majestic paintings historical events, reflected main idea throughout the composer's work - courage, calm greatness, spiritual nobility of the best Russian people and the mighty strength of the entire Russian people, manifested in the defense of their homeland.

Despite the fact that A.P. Borodin left a relatively small number of works, his work is very diverse and he is considered one of the fathers of Russian symphonic music, who influenced many generations of Russian and foreign composers.

Quote about A.P. Borodin:“Borodin’s talent is equally powerful and amazing in symphony, opera and romance. Its main qualities are gigantic strength and width, colossal scope, swiftness and impetuosity, combined with amazing passion, tenderness and beauty.” V.V. Stasov

Interesting fact: A chemical reaction of silver salts is named after Borodin carboxylic acids with halogens, resulting in halogenated hydrocarbons, which he pioneered in 1861.

3. Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky

(1839-1881)

“The sounds of human speech, as outward manifestations of thought and feeling, must, without exaggeration and violence, become music that is truthful, accurate, but artistic, highly artistic.”

Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky is one of the most brilliant Russian composers of the 19th century, a member of the Mighty bunch" Mussorgsky's innovative work was far ahead of its time.

Born in the Pskov province. Like many talented people, from childhood showed abilities in music, studied in St. Petersburg, was, according to family tradition, military. The decisive event that determined that Mussorgsky was not born for military service, and for music, it was his meeting with M.A. Balakirev and joining the “Mighty Handful”.

Mussorgsky is great because in his grandiose works - the operas "Boris Godunov" and "Khovanshchina" - he captured dramatic milestones in music Russian history with radical novelty, which Russian music did not know before him, showing in them a combination of mass folk scenes and the diverse wealth of types, the unique character of the Russian people. These operas, in numerous editions by both the author and other composers, are among the most popular Russian operas in the world.

One more outstanding work Mussorgsky's cycle of piano pieces "Pictures at an Exhibition" features colorful and inventive miniatures permeated with a Russian theme-refrain and Orthodox faith.

Mussorgsky's life had everything - both greatness and tragedy, but he was always distinguished by genuine spiritual purity and selflessness.

His last years were difficult - unsettled life, lack of recognition of creativity, loneliness, addiction to alcohol, all this determined his early death at the age of 42, he left relatively few works, some of which were completed by other composers.

The specific melody and innovative harmony of Mussorgsky anticipated some features musical development 20th century and played an important role in the formation of the styles of many world composers.

Quote about M.P. Mussorgsky:“The original Russian sounds in everything that Mussorgsky created” N.K. Roerich

Interesting fact: At the end of his life, Mussorgsky, under pressure from his “friends” Stasov and Rimsky-Korsakov, renounced the copyright to his works and donated them to Tertius Filippov.

4. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

(1840-1893)

“I am an artist who can and should bring honor to my Motherland. I feel great artistic strength in myself; I have not yet done even a tenth of what I can do. And I want to do this with all the strength of my soul.”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, perhaps the greatest Russian composer of the 19th century, raised Russian musical art to unprecedented heights. He is one of the most important composers of world classical music.

Native Vyatka province Although his paternal roots were in Ukraine, Tchaikovsky showed musical abilities from childhood, but his first education and work was in the field of jurisprudence.

Tchaikovsky was one of the first Russian “professional” composers; he studied music theory and composition at the new St. Petersburg Conservatory.

Tchaikovsky was considered a “Western” composer, as opposed to the popular figures of the “Mighty Handful”, with whom he had good creative and friendly relations, but his work is no less permeated with the Russian spirit, he managed to uniquely combine the Western symphonic heritage of Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann with the Russians traditions inherited from Mikhail Glinka.

The composer led an active life - he was a teacher, conductor, critic, public figure, worked in two capitals, toured in Europe and America.

Tchaikovsky was a rather emotionally unstable person; enthusiasm, despondency, apathy, hot temper, violent anger - all these moods changed in him quite often; being a very sociable person, he always strived for loneliness.

Selecting something best from Tchaikovsky’s work is a difficult task; he has several equal works in almost all musical genres - opera, ballet, symphony, chamber music. And the content of Tchaikovsky’s music is universal: with inimitable melodicism it embraces images of life and death, love, nature, childhood, it reveals works of Russian and world literature in a new way, and reflects the deep processes of spiritual life.

Composer quote:“Life has beauty only when it consists of alternation of joys and sorrows, of the struggle between good and evil, of light and shadow, in a word - of diversity in unity.”

“Great talent requires great hard work.”

Quote about the composer: “I am ready to stand as a guard of honor day and night at the porch of the house where Pyotr Ilyich lives - that is how much I respect him.” A.P. Chekhov

Interesting fact: The University of Cambridge awarded Tchaikovsky the title of Doctor of Music in absentia and without defending a dissertation, as did the Paris Academy Fine Arts elected him a corresponding member.

5. Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov

(1844-1908)

N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov and A.K. Glazunov with their students M.M. Chernov and V.A. Senilov. Photo 1906

Nikolai Andreevich Rimsky-Korsakov is a talented Russian composer, one of the most important figures in the creation of an invaluable Russian musical heritage. His unique world and worship of the eternal all-encompassing beauty of the universe, admiration for the miracle of existence, unity with nature have no analogues in the history of music.

Born in the Novgorod province, according to family tradition he became a naval officer, and visited many countries in Europe and the two Americas on a warship. He received his musical education first from his mother, then taking private lessons from pianist F. Canille. And again, thanks to M.A. Balakirev, the organizer of the “Mighty Handful,” who introduced Rimsky-Korsakov into the musical community and influenced his work, the world has not lost a talented composer.

The central place in Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy is made up of operas - 15 works demonstrating the diversity of genre, stylistic, dramatic, compositional solutions of the composer, nevertheless having a special style - with all the richness of the orchestral component, the main ones are melodic vocal lines.

Two main directions distinguish the composer’s work: the first is Russian history, the second is the world of fairy tales and epics, for which he received the nickname “storyteller.”

In addition to direct independent creative activity N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov is known as a publicist, compiler of collections folk songs, in which he showed great interest, and also as a completionist of the works of his friends - Dargomyzhsky, Mussorgsky and Borodin. Rimsky-Korsakov was the creator of a school of composition; as a teacher and director of the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he trained about two hundred composers, conductors, and musicologists, among them Prokofiev and Stravinsky.

Quote about the composer:“Rimsky-Korsakov was a very Russian man and a very Russian composer. I believe that this primordially Russian essence of it, its deep folklore-Russian basis should be especially appreciated today.” Mstislav Rostropovich

Fact about the composer: Nikolai Andreevich began his first counterpoint lesson like this:

- Now I will talk a lot, and you will listen very carefully. Then I will talk less, and you will listen and think, and finally, I will not speak at all, and you will think with your own head and work independently, because my task as a teacher is to become unnecessary to you...

1. “Symphony No. 5”, Ludwig van Beethoven

According to legend, Beethoven (1770-1827) for a long time could not come up with an introduction to Symphony No. 5. But when he lay down to take a nap, he heard a knock on the door, and the rhythm of this knock became the introduction to this work. Interestingly, the first notes of the symphony correspond to the number 5, or V in Morse code.

2. O Fortuna, Carl Orff

Composer Carl Orff (1895-1982) is best known for this cantata with dramatic vocals. It is based on the 13th century poem “Carmina Burana”. It is one of the most frequently performed classical pieces around the world.

3. Hallelujah Chorus, George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) wrote the oratorio Messiah in 24 days. Many melodies, including "Hallelujah", were later borrowed from this work and began to be performed as independent works. According to legend, Handel had music played in his head by angels. The text of the oratorio is based on biblical stories, Handel reflected the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

4. “Ride of the Valkyries”, Richard Wagner

This composition is taken from the opera "Die Walküre", which is part of the cycle of operas "The Ring of the Nibelung" by Richard Wagner (1813-1883). The opera "Valkyrie" is dedicated to the daughter of the god Odin. Wagner spent 26 years composing this opera, and it is only the second part of a grandiose masterpiece of four operas.

5. “Toccata and Fugue in D minor”, ​​Johann Sebastian Bach

This is probably the most famous work Bach (1685-1750), it is often used in films during dramatic scenes.

6. “Little Night Serenade”, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756-1791) wrote this legendary 15-minute composition in just a week. It was officially published in 1827.

7. “Ode to Joy”, Ludwig van Beethoven

Another of Beethoven's masterpieces was completed in 1824. This is the most famous fragment of Symphony No. 9. The most amazing thing is that by that time Beethoven had already become deaf and... nevertheless, he managed to compose such an outstanding work.

8. “Spring”, Antonio Vivaldi

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) - composer of the Baroque era, wrote four works in 1723, each of which personified one season. The Four Seasons are still very popular, especially Spring and Summer.

9. “Pachelbel Canon” (Canon in D major), Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was a composer of the Baroque era and is considered the most influential composer of this period. He amazed the world with his sophisticated and technical music.

10. Overture from the opera “William Tell”, Gioachino Rossini

This 12-minute composition by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) is the last part of a four-movement overture. The other parts are less well known today, but the composition was made famous by its use in Warner Brother's Disney Looney Tunes cartoons.

English version

Any of the composers discussed in this article can easily be called the greatest composer of classical music that has 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 sought to expand the boundaries of classical music, to reach new heights in it that were previously unattainable.

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

For 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 recognized as the most significant of the entire legacy left by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The greatest composer and organist in the history of world music. is a representative of the Baroque era. Throughout his life he wrote over a thousand works, however, only about a dozen were published during his lifetime. 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. Started creating 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.

Mozart’s most enigmatic and mysterious work, “Requiem,” was never completed by the author. The reason for this was sudden death at the age of thirty-five. His student Franz Süssmayer completed work on the Requiem.

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

By order of Ludwig II of Bavaria, a opera house according to Wagner's ideas. It was intended exclusively for the composer's works. Musical dramas Wagner still wears it to this day.

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

A great composer from Austria, and a conductor, and a violinist, and recognized by all the peoples of the world as the “King of the Waltz”. His work was dedicated to light dance music and operetta. His heritage includes over five hundred waltzes, quadrilles, polkas, and also several operettas and ballets. In the nineteenth century, thanks to Strauss, the waltz gained incredible popularity in Vienna.

Italian composer, virtuoso guitarist and violinist. A very bright and unusual personality musical history, is a recognized genius in the world art of music. The entire work of this great man was shrouded in a certain mystery, thanks to Paganini himself. He discovered in his works new, previously unknown types of violin technique. He is also one of the founders of romanticism in music.

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

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

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

Franz Schubert wrote music during the transition from the Viennese period classic style to the romantic period. His works are very expressive, emotional, written using the idiom of the Viennese classical style. Schubert had only just turned 30 when he died, but he left a vast musical legacy for future generations. Today, classical music without the works of Schubert is not possible. It is still unknown why Schubert died - at the beginning of the 20th century, German doctors were sure that he died of typhoid fever, a disease of the poor. Today, some doctors believe that he died of late-stage syphilis. It can be argued that Schubert himself knew about his incurable disease already in 1823. In addition, he also suffered from fever in recent days, but today the opinion about syphilis is more strengthened.

Personally, we think that it is necessary to take into account the fact that Schubert lived in unsanitary conditions, and that during his last days ate and drank very little - and this is typical for gastrointestinal diseases.

Frederic Chopin The interest attracted to how and what compositions Chopin wrote is aroused naturally - his creations are not only good from an aesthetic point of view, but also from a technical point of view. A glance at the notes that Chopin wrote will immediately explain all his originality - the manuscripts of his works are teeming with crossings out, insertions, etc. It is rare to find several versions of one work that are identical. The sheet music published “simultaneously” in different countries varies – even after the work was published, Chopin found a way to correct it. In general, Chopin believed that composer's work should be creative, unrestricted by the limits of publication or other reasons. This is probably what led to Chopin's music being included in a large list called “classical music”.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart one of the most interesting composers, a child prodigy, a unique child who showed incredible talent in music. Mozart already played the harpsichord quite well at the age of 3-4 and came up with his own compositions. Many attributed magical abilities to him - and, according to known history, his rival Salieri, could not bear the envy and poisoned Wolfgang. Mozart had perfect hearing, a great sense of music and easily created the most complex scores. Mozart wrote most of his works for the entertainment of courtiers, so they are light and airy, although from the point of view of a pianist they are quite serious. Perhaps Mozart is classical music.

George Frideric Handel(born 23 February 1685 in Hale, died 14 April 1759 in London) was a Baroque composer. He became famous primarily for his numerous operas. His work includes approximately 40 operas and 25 oratorios. Handel left compositions in all musical genres that existed at that time. Handel's father George (1622-1697) was a Lutheran barber and surgeon and served as court surgeon to Duke Weissenfels of Saxony.

George Handel took his son with him before he was 8 years old to Weissenfels. Thus, the baby met the court musicians and played the organ in the presence of the Duke. He immediately recognized the boy's talent and had a serious talk with his father, who listened to his arguments, although he himself was not interested in music.

After his return, Handel became a student of Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, organist of the Church of the Madonna. With him he studied composition, learned to play, in addition to keyboard instruments, also the oboe and violin. Every week it was also necessary to compose mottets. Handel is then sent to the court in Berlin at the age of twelve, where he makes a great impression with his musical abilities. The Elector of Brandenburg (later the Prussian King Frederick I) proposes to send the boy to Italy for training and then assign him to the court in Berlin.

In October 1712, Handel returned to London, where he spent the rest of his life. At first he lived for one year with a wealthy music lover, Barn Elms, in Surrey. For the next 3 years he lived with Earl Burlington near London.

Franz Liszt born October 22, 1811 in Raiding, then the Kingdom of Hungary, today Austria (Burgenland). He was one of the most famous and most successful virtuoso pianists of the 19th century, as well as a brilliant composer. Everyone who studied at music school, I definitely came across his name and works. He was born in the first half XIX century, in October. Since childhood, the composer began writing music and giving concerts. F. Liszt wrote sketches and communicated with such composers as Chopin, Salieri and Paganini. He turned piano works into pop music, changing the perception of the piano from a chamber, salon instrument into an instrument designed for a wide audience. Franz Liszt made adaptations of other musical works, giving them a new sound. He created variations and fantasies on well-known motifs. Franz Liszt also visited Russia and communicated with domestic composers and musicians, in particular with Glinka.

He was studying symphonic creativity and often wrote plays based on historical or fictional events. In his works one can also find images famous writers, in particular, Faust and Mephistopheles.

Franz Liszt played a big role in the development of the musical genre in his homeland - Hungary.

F. Liszt died in 1886, at the age of 75. The place of his death was the city of Bayreuth.

Johann Sebastian Bach(born March 21, 1685 in Eisenach, died July 28, 1750 in Leipzig) - German composer of the Baroque era. Today he is considered one of the greatest musical creators of all time, who significantly influenced later music and whose works are performed all over the world, both in the original and in countless adaptations.

Immediately after his entry into the church service, Bach began composing or rearranging cantatas for appropriate performances. During this systematic work, an average of about one piece a week appeared during the first years, then the pace slowed down. In early 1725, Bach met with the poet Christian Friedrich Henritz Aliens Picander, who finally provided the text for the Matthew Passion, which was performed for the first time in 1727 or 1729. In 1729, Bach took over the management of the musical college founded by Telemann in 1701, which he headed until 1741, probably even until 1746. Along with teaching, he represented German and Italian instrumental and vocal music, in addition, he wrote for this some of his secular cantatas, such as Hercules at the Crossroads, which he called "Dramma per la Musica" or "Dramma per Musica" and which are close in structure to opera. The Peasant and Coffee Cantata shows that he could also write in the humorous genre. The latter, in all likelihood, was performed at the Zimermansky coffee house", when he performed concerts with the music college.

Ludwig van Beethoven(born December 16, 1770 in Bonn, Germany, died March 26, 1827 in Vienna), was a Viennese classical composer. He is considered the composer who led the music of that era to its highest development. Ludwig van Beethoven was born into a musician family. Beethoven's father was amazed by little Wolfgang Mozart, who began performing as a composer at the age of 6 and was known as a child prodigy. With the goal of making his son a child prodigy, he began giving him piano lessons. Young Beethoven also learned to play the organ and clarinet. However, his father's strict attitude hampered the boy's development, who was roused from bed in the middle of the night to demonstrate his piano skills to his father's friends. This led to Beethoven often becoming tired at school and suffering from lack of concentration. At the age of 11, he was forced to leave school. Otherwise, Beethoven’s childhood was not problem-free. His father was an alcoholic, his mother was very often sick and of his 6 brothers and sisters only two survived. Yes, when he fell ill with inflammation of the middle ear at the age of 5, his parents did not notice it, and this is considered one of the reasons for the deafness that arose later. While Beethoven had a tense and reserved relationship with his father, he loved his mother very much. Beethoven's father's colleagues at the Bonn court recognized Ludwig's talent and made sure that his father finally decided to pass on further music education his son into the hands of other musicians. Beethoven's most famous patrons and teachers in Bonn over the next years included Christiane Gottlob Näfe (piano, organ and composition) and Franz Anton Ries (violin). 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, overtures (Prometheus, Coriolanus, Eleanor), vocal works, opera Fidelio, works for piano, 32 sonatas for piano, ballets and stage music, chamber music, quartets, cello sonatas.

Nicolo Poganini, born October 27, 1782 in Genoa, was an Italian violinist, guitarist and composer. During his time he was the leading and most virtuoso violinist. Appearance(he was thin, had jet-black hair and brown eyes) and his brilliant playing technique made him a legend during his lifetime. Paganini is already in early childhood received his first violin lesson, including from his father (Antonio Paganini), who forced him to regular classes. If, in his father's opinion, he was not diligent enough, little Nicolo did not receive any food, and beatings often took place. He earned his living by traveling around Italy as a virtuoso violinist. Between 1805 and 1809 he had a stable position with Princess Elisa Baciotti Lucchi, Napoleon's sister. This was his only permanent position. Since 1813, Paganini was constantly on concert tours, during which he bewitched his listeners." magical art violinist." Vienna, London, Paris, Vienna again and so on endlessly... In Paris in 1833 he met Hector Berlioz, from whom he took composition lessons. He died in 1840 in Nice while on vacation.

Q· Of his 8 violin concertos, 6 remain today.

· Today his 24 capriccios belong to the standard repertoire of the best violinists. They are so difficult that it was only possible 50 years after his death to play them without simplifications.

· 12 sonatas for cello and guitar.

· 6 quartets for cello, violin and guitar.

· 60 etudes in variations for cello and guitar.