Composer of the MonthMarch 2020
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Born: Tikhvin, Russia march 6, 1844 Died: Luga, Russia June 8, 1908 Nationality: Russian Period/Style: Nationalism Fun Fact: He developed a passion for the ocean as a child from reading books and listening to his older brother tell tales about the Russian navy. Famous Works: Scheherazade Interactive website of Scheherazade February 2020
January 2020
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Joan Tower
Born: 1938 Nationality: American Style/Period: Contemporary Fun Fact: She lived in South America as a child Famous Works: Fanfare for the Common Woman Small |
May 2019
John Philip Sousa
Born: November 6, 1854; Washington, D.C.
Died: March 6, 1932; Reading, PA
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Late Romantic
Fun Fact: Was director of the Marine Band ("The President's Own) and brought it to national prominence. He helped invent the marching tuba known as the sousaphone!
Famous Works: Stars and Stripes Forever; Washington Post; Liberty Bell
John Philip Sousa
Born: November 6, 1854; Washington, D.C.
Died: March 6, 1932; Reading, PA
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Late Romantic
Fun Fact: Was director of the Marine Band ("The President's Own) and brought it to national prominence. He helped invent the marching tuba known as the sousaphone!
Famous Works: Stars and Stripes Forever; Washington Post; Liberty Bell
April 2019
Igor Stravinsky
Born: June 17, 1882; Lomonosov Russia
Died: April 6, 1971; New York, NY
Nationality: Russian
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: His parents were musicians but tried to persuade him to study law
Famous Works: Rite of Spring
Igor Stravinsky
Born: June 17, 1882; Lomonosov Russia
Died: April 6, 1971; New York, NY
Nationality: Russian
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: His parents were musicians but tried to persuade him to study law
Famous Works: Rite of Spring
March 2019
Scott Joplin
Born: November 24, 1867, Texarkana, AR
Died: April 1, 1917, New York, NY
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Ragtime
Fun Fact: He went to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893
Famous Works: The Entertainer (used in the movie The Sting); Maple Leaf Rag; Listen to it on player piano
Scott Joplin
Born: November 24, 1867, Texarkana, AR
Died: April 1, 1917, New York, NY
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Ragtime
Fun Fact: He went to the Chicago World's Fair in 1893
Famous Works: The Entertainer (used in the movie The Sting); Maple Leaf Rag; Listen to it on player piano
February 2019
Scott Gendel
Born: 1977
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: He received graduate degrees at UW Madison
Famous Works: At Last with cellist Yo Yo Ma
Opera for the Young will be coming to QP in March to perform Mr. Gendel's opera Super Storm!
Born: 1977
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: He received graduate degrees at UW Madison
Famous Works: At Last with cellist Yo Yo Ma
Opera for the Young will be coming to QP in March to perform Mr. Gendel's opera Super Storm!
January 2019
Maurice Ravel
Born: 1875 Ciboure, France
Died: 1937 Paris, France
Nationality: French
Style/Period: Impressionist
Fun Fact: He was Catholic. He often wrote 2 version of his pieces - one for piano and one for orchestra.
Famous Works: Bolero; La Valse; L'Enfant et les Sortileges
Born: 1875 Ciboure, France
Died: 1937 Paris, France
Nationality: French
Style/Period: Impressionist
Fun Fact: He was Catholic. He often wrote 2 version of his pieces - one for piano and one for orchestra.
Famous Works: Bolero; La Valse; L'Enfant et les Sortileges
November 2018
Leonard Bernstein
Born: August 25, 1918; Lawrence, MA
Died: October 14, 1990; New York, NY
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: He became an overnight sensation at age 25 after stepping in at the last minute to conduct the New York Philharmonic.
Famous Works: West Side Story: America; I Feel Pretty; New York, New York from "On the Town"; Mass; Candide Overture (With Mr. Bernstein conducting!)
Born: August 25, 1918; Lawrence, MA
Died: October 14, 1990; New York, NY
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Contemporary
Fun Fact: He became an overnight sensation at age 25 after stepping in at the last minute to conduct the New York Philharmonic.
Famous Works: West Side Story: America; I Feel Pretty; New York, New York from "On the Town"; Mass; Candide Overture (With Mr. Bernstein conducting!)
October 2018
Franz Schubert Born: January 31, 1797; Vienna Austria Died: November 19, 1828; Vienna Nationality: Austria Style/Period: Classical/Romantic Fun Fact: He started as a teacher in his father's school. He hosted "Schubertiades," musical parties at his home to celebrate his new music. Famous Works: Ave Maria Symphony #8 Erlking |
September 2018
George Bizet
Born: October 25, 1838. Paris, France
Died: June 3, 1875. Paris, France
Nationality: French
Style/Period: Romantic
Famous Works: Carmen Toreador Song & Habanera; L'Arlesienne
Fun Facts: His father was a singing teacher and his mother was a pianist
Fun Video: Tom & Jerry's version of Carmen
May 2018
Richard Rodgers Dates Born: June 28, 1902, New York City Died: December 30, 1979. New York City Nationality: American Style/Period: Contemporary Famous Works: South Pacific, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, The King and I, Carousel, Cinderella Fun Facts: He was a pioneer in crafting the quintessential American musical and won every award in his field. He learned to play piano as a toddler. |
April 2018
Sergei Prokofiev
Dates:
Born: April 23, 1891, Ukraine
Died: March 5, 1953,Moscow
Nationality: Ukrainian
Style/Period: Contemporary
Famous Works: Romeo and Juliet ballet
Peter and the Wolf
Fun Facts: He recorded one of his piano concertos at Abbey Road studios, where the Beatles recorded.
He died the same day as Joseph Stalin.
Sergei Prokofiev
Dates:
Born: April 23, 1891, Ukraine
Died: March 5, 1953,Moscow
Nationality: Ukrainian
Style/Period: Contemporary
Famous Works: Romeo and Juliet ballet
Peter and the Wolf
Fun Facts: He recorded one of his piano concertos at Abbey Road studios, where the Beatles recorded.
He died the same day as Joseph Stalin.
March 2018
Johann Sebastian Bach Dates: Born in Eisenach, Germany, 1685 Died in Leipzig, Germany 1750 Nationality: German Style/Period: Baroque Famous Works: Toccata and Fugue in D minor Art of Fugue: Contrapunctus 1 Fun Fact: He had 20 children! He wrote LOTS of music for church. Fun Video: The Trost Organ in the cathedral of Waltershausen, Germany |
February 2018
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January 2018
Antonin Dvorak
Dates:
Born: September 8, 1841 Nelahozeves, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (now the Czech Republic)
Died: May 1, 1904 Prague
Nationality: Czech
Period/Style: Romantic
Fun Fact: First Bohemian composer to achieve worldwide recognition, noted for turning folk material into the language of 19th-century Romantic music.
Famous Works: New World Symphony (Symphony #9) Largo; Allegro
Slavonic Dance #8
Dates:
Born: September 8, 1841 Nelahozeves, Bohemia, Austrian Empire (now the Czech Republic)
Died: May 1, 1904 Prague
Nationality: Czech
Period/Style: Romantic
Fun Fact: First Bohemian composer to achieve worldwide recognition, noted for turning folk material into the language of 19th-century Romantic music.
Famous Works: New World Symphony (Symphony #9) Largo; Allegro
Slavonic Dance #8
December 2017
(see December 2015)
November 2017
Irving Berlin
Dates:
Born: May 11, 1888 Russia
Died: September 22, 1989 New York City
Nationality: American (He emigrated from Russia at age 5)
Period/Style: Tin Pan Alley
Fun Fact: He is considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. He wrote about 1500 songs, 20 Broadway shows and 15 movies
Famous Works: God Bless America; Holiday Inn, Annie Get Your Gun, White Christmas, Easter Parade, Alexander's Ragtime Band
Irving Berlin
Dates:
Born: May 11, 1888 Russia
Died: September 22, 1989 New York City
Nationality: American (He emigrated from Russia at age 5)
Period/Style: Tin Pan Alley
Fun Fact: He is considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. He wrote about 1500 songs, 20 Broadway shows and 15 movies
Famous Works: God Bless America; Holiday Inn, Annie Get Your Gun, White Christmas, Easter Parade, Alexander's Ragtime Band
October 2017
Paul Dukas
Dates: October 1, 1865-1935
Born: Paris, France October 1, 1865
Died: Paris, France May 17, 1935
Nationality: French
Period/Style: Romantic/Contemporary
Fun Fact: He is mostly famous for just one piece
Famous Works: Fanfare to La Peri
The Sorcerer's Apprentice as seen in Disney's Fantasia
Paul Dukas
Dates: October 1, 1865-1935
Born: Paris, France October 1, 1865
Died: Paris, France May 17, 1935
Nationality: French
Period/Style: Romantic/Contemporary
Fun Fact: He is mostly famous for just one piece
Famous Works: Fanfare to La Peri
The Sorcerer's Apprentice as seen in Disney's Fantasia
September 2017
Franz Liszt
Dates:
Born: October 22, 1811; Doborjan, Hungary
Died: July 31, 1886; Bayreuth, Germany
Nationality: Hungarian
Period/Style: Romantic
Fun Fact: He had very big hands and was a virtuoso piano player.
Famous Works: Hungarian Rhapsody #2 For fun: Rhapsody in Rivets cartoon
Franz Liszt
Dates:
Born: October 22, 1811; Doborjan, Hungary
Died: July 31, 1886; Bayreuth, Germany
Nationality: Hungarian
Period/Style: Romantic
Fun Fact: He had very big hands and was a virtuoso piano player.
Famous Works: Hungarian Rhapsody #2 For fun: Rhapsody in Rivets cartoon
May 2017
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (the z is like the z in pizza)
Dates:
Born: January 27, 1756; Salzburg, Austria
Died: December 5 1791; Vienna, Austria
Nationality: Austrian
Period/Style: Classical
Fun Fact: He was a true child prodigy, composing before age 5 and performing on piano for European royalty. His father was a composer and was also his teacher. For a time he was employed by the Archbishop of Salzburg as his personal composer.
Famous Works:
12 Variations
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Magic Flute
April 2017
Amy Beach Dates: Born: September 5, 1867; Henniker, New hampshire Died: December 27, 1944; New York, New York Nationality: American Period/Style: Second New England School Fun Fact: She could read at age 3 and compose at age 5. She was the first successful American female classical composer Famous Works: Violin Sonata; Piano Quintet |
March 2017
Gaetano Donizetti
Dates:
Born: November 29, 1797; Bergamo, Italy
Died: April 8, 1848; Bergamo, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Period/Style: Bel Canto
Fun Fact: He wrote almost 70 operas
Famous Works: The Elixir of Love
Gaetano Donizetti
Dates:
Born: November 29, 1797; Bergamo, Italy
Died: April 8, 1848; Bergamo, Italy
Nationality: Italian
Period/Style: Bel Canto
Fun Fact: He wrote almost 70 operas
Famous Works: The Elixir of Love
February 2017
Edward "Duke" Elllington Dates: Born: April 299, 1899, Washington, D.C. Died: May 24, 1974, New York City Nationality: American Period/Style: Jazz Fun Fact: Wrote his first composition (Soda Fountain Rag) at age 16 while working at a soda fountain. Also wrote jazz arrangements of several pieces from "The Nutcracker." |
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January 2017
Frederic Chopin (Sho-pan)
Dates:
Born: March 1, 1810, Zelazowa Wola, Poland
Died: October 17, 1849, Paris, France
Nationality: Polish
Period/Style: Romantic
Fun Fact: Wrote his first composition at age 7. He was a child prodigy on piano. That means he played piano like an adult would even though he was a child.
Famous Works:
Prelude in c minor and here's another fun video of the same piece
Nocturne Opus 9, No. 2
December 2016
See December 2015 below
See December 2015 below
November 2016
William Billings
Dates:
Born: Boston, MA, October 7, 1746
Died: Boston, MA, September 26, 1800
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Early American
Fun Fact: He is regarded as the first American choral composer.
Paul Revere engraved the cover of his first published work.
His works are usually a cappella (unaccompanied)
Famous Works: Chester
Dates:
Born: Boston, MA, October 7, 1746
Died: Boston, MA, September 26, 1800
Nationality: American
Style/Period: Early American
Fun Fact: He is regarded as the first American choral composer.
Paul Revere engraved the cover of his first published work.
His works are usually a cappella (unaccompanied)
Famous Works: Chester
October 2016
Claude Debussy
Dates:
Born: August 22, 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died: March 25, 1918, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Style/Period: Romantic
Fun Facts: He lived at the same time as artist Claude Monet and was considered an Impressionist composer.
Famous Works:
Clair de Lune
Dates:
Born: August 22, 1862, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died: March 25, 1918, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Style/Period: Romantic
Fun Facts: He lived at the same time as artist Claude Monet and was considered an Impressionist composer.
Famous Works:
Clair de Lune
September 2016
Antonio Vivaldi
Dates:
Born Venice, Italy 1678
Died Vienna, Austria 1741
Nationality:
Italian
Style/Period:
Baroque
Fun Facts:
Many of his works were written for a female music ensemble. He was a virtuoso violinist and wrote mostly for strings. He was also an ordained priest! He was ill much of his adult life so he didn't say Mass very often.
Famous Works:
The Four Seasons
Oboe Concerto
Dates:
Born Venice, Italy 1678
Died Vienna, Austria 1741
Nationality:
Italian
Style/Period:
Baroque
Fun Facts:
Many of his works were written for a female music ensemble. He was a virtuoso violinist and wrote mostly for strings. He was also an ordained priest! He was ill much of his adult life so he didn't say Mass very often.
Famous Works:
The Four Seasons
Oboe Concerto
May 2016
George Gershwin
Dates:
Born New York, NY 1898
Died Los Angeles, CA 1937
Nationality:
American
Style/Period:
Contemporary Jazz/Classical/Tin Pan Alley
Fun Facts: He worked with his brother Ira. George wrote the music and Ira wrote the words. Was influenced by French music. He wrote classical music and jazz. He felt that his music reflected the American people.
Famous Works:
An American in Paris
I Got Rhythm
Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin
Dates:
Born New York, NY 1898
Died Los Angeles, CA 1937
Nationality:
American
Style/Period:
Contemporary Jazz/Classical/Tin Pan Alley
Fun Facts: He worked with his brother Ira. George wrote the music and Ira wrote the words. Was influenced by French music. He wrote classical music and jazz. He felt that his music reflected the American people.
Famous Works:
An American in Paris
I Got Rhythm
Rhapsody in Blue
April 2016
Johannes Brahms
Dates:
Born Hamburg Germany May 7, 1833
Died Vienna Austria April 3, 1897
Nationality:
German
Style/Period:
Romantic
Fun Facts:
He was a good friend of composer Clara Schumann.
He wrote "A German Requiem," unusual at the time because it was set in German instead of Latin and was non-liturgical and meant to console the living.
He is known as one of the "3 B's" named for the great composers Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
Famous Works:
Lullaby
Hungarian Dance No. 5 and the funny version
Requiem (How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place)
Johannes Brahms
Dates:
Born Hamburg Germany May 7, 1833
Died Vienna Austria April 3, 1897
Nationality:
German
Style/Period:
Romantic
Fun Facts:
He was a good friend of composer Clara Schumann.
He wrote "A German Requiem," unusual at the time because it was set in German instead of Latin and was non-liturgical and meant to console the living.
He is known as one of the "3 B's" named for the great composers Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.
Famous Works:
Lullaby
Hungarian Dance No. 5 and the funny version
Requiem (How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place)
March 2016
Richard Strauss (pronounced "Ree-card")
Dates:
Born Munich, Germany June 11, 1864
Died Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany September 8, 1949
Nationality:
German
Style/Period:
Romantic/Early Modern
Fun Facts:
He had a very high opinion of himself, even writing a piece about himself called "Ein Heldenleben," (A Hero's Life).
Before World War II he wrote in his private journal that what the German government was doing was "a disgrace to German honour." And later: "Do you believe I am ever, in any of my actions, guided by the thought that I am 'German'? I recognise only two types of people: those who have talent and those who have none."
A Few of His Many Famous Works:
Also Sprach Zarathustra -In how many movies have you heard this music?
Here's the goat version
Ein Heldenleben
Horn Concerto No. 1
Richard Strauss (pronounced "Ree-card")
Dates:
Born Munich, Germany June 11, 1864
Died Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany September 8, 1949
Nationality:
German
Style/Period:
Romantic/Early Modern
Fun Facts:
He had a very high opinion of himself, even writing a piece about himself called "Ein Heldenleben," (A Hero's Life).
Before World War II he wrote in his private journal that what the German government was doing was "a disgrace to German honour." And later: "Do you believe I am ever, in any of my actions, guided by the thought that I am 'German'? I recognise only two types of people: those who have talent and those who have none."
A Few of His Many Famous Works:
Also Sprach Zarathustra -In how many movies have you heard this music?
Here's the goat version
Ein Heldenleben
Horn Concerto No. 1
February 2016
Aaron Copland
Dates:
Born Brooklyn, NY Nov. 14,1900
Died New York, NY Dec. 2, 1990
Nationality: Fun Fact:
American He composed for radio, film and ballet. Later in life he did a lot of conducting.
Style/Period:
Contemporary
Famous Works:
Hoedown from Rodeo
Appalachian Spring
Fanfare for the Common Man
January 2016
Clara Schumann
Dates: 3 Works for Piano:
Born Leipzig, Germany 1819 Piano Trio
Died Frankfurt Germany 1896 Piano Concerto
Prelude and Fugue
Nationality:
German Fun Facts:
She was better known as a concert pianist. She was married to composer Robert Schumann and had 8 children
All of her works were written before she turned 34.
Style/Period:
Romantic
December 2015
Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Dates: Born Votkinsk, Russia 1840 Died St. Petersburg, Russia 1893 Nationality: Russian Style/Period: Romantic |
Famous Works:
5 Symphonies Concerto for Violin Concerto for Piano Lots of ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker Fun Fact: He started piano lessons at age 5 and soon was just as good at reading music as his teacher. Music Video Links: Nutcracker Party scene Battle scene Snow scene Mother Ginger Russian dance |
Fun Facts:
Most of his operas were funny. His nickname was "The Rossini Rocket" because he wrote lots of long, slow crescendos in his music. |
November 2015
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October 2015
John Williams
Dates: 1932 -
Born in Floral Park, NY
Nationality:
American
Style/Period:
Contemporary
Famous Works: Music for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, ET, Jaws and many more!
Music Video Links:
Star Wars
Harry Potter Hedwig
Olympic Fanfare
Link to his website: http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/biography.html
Fun Facts: He is still an active composer as well as a conductor. He was Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980 - 1993. He has written the music for all of the Star Wars movies including the new one being released this December. He has been nominated for 49 Academy Awards and has won 5!
John Williams
Dates: 1932 -
Born in Floral Park, NY
Nationality:
American
Style/Period:
Contemporary
Famous Works: Music for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, ET, Jaws and many more!
Music Video Links:
Star Wars
Harry Potter Hedwig
Olympic Fanfare
Link to his website: http://www.johnwilliams.org/reference/biography.html
Fun Facts: He is still an active composer as well as a conductor. He was Principal Conductor of the Boston Pops from 1980 - 1993. He has written the music for all of the Star Wars movies including the new one being released this December. He has been nominated for 49 Academy Awards and has won 5!
September 2015
Other Pieces We Studied:
The Well Tempered Clavier Double Violin Concerto Fun Fact: He had 20 children! He wrote LOTS of music for church. |
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May 2015
Richard Wagner
Dates:
Born in Leipzig, Germany, May 22, 1813
Died in Venice, Italy, February 13, 1883
Nationality:
German
Style/Period:
Romantic 1820-1910
Famous Works:
The Ring Cycle - 4 operas totaling over 18 hours of music!
Here Comes the Bride (actually the Bridal Chorus from the opera Lohengrin)
Other Pieces We Studied: Fun Video:
Overture to Tannhauser What's Opera Doc?
The Ride of the Valkyries
Siegfried's Call
Overture to The Flying Dutchman
April 2015Fun FactStarted losing his hearing at age 26 and was completely deaf by the end of his life. At the premier of his Ninth Symphony he had to be turned around to face the audience so he could see the applause because he couldn't hear it.
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Ludwig von Beethoven
Dates: Baptized in Bonn, Germany, December 17, 1770 Died in Vienna, Austria March 26, 1827 Nationality: German Style/Period: Transition between Classical and Romantic Famous Works: Fifth Symphony Fur Elise Moonlight Sonata Ode to Joy from Ninth Symphony Fu n Video Beethoven's Wig |
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