Felix Mendelssohn composed with a combination of the ideas of control and restraint from the Classical Era and the imagination and creativity that characterized the Romantic Era. Many of his compositions are light and focus on the fanciful aspect of Romanticism. Mendelssohn shares some similarities with Mozart. He was considered a child prodigy, often playing…
It is no wonder that Gioacchino Rossini composed so many operas – his musical strength in his youth was his voice. He composed 38 operas by the time he was 37 years old, but composed no more after the creation of one of his most famous, William Tell. Many have speculated why he stopped opera…
Ludwig van Beethoven lived within the date range of the Classical Era. Musically he started as a Classical style composer, emulating the work of Mozart and Haydn. He is a fascinating composer because he began composing in one style, but pioneered many ideas that would be expanded upon in the Romantic Era, and even hinted…
“Papa” Haydn was also known as the father of the symphony (of which he composed 104!) and grandfather of the string quartet. Though he did not invent these forms, he did quite a bit to perfect them with wisdom and good taste. “Papa” Haydn was respected as a man of good character who looked out…
Music was definitely a family activity for the Stamitz family! Johann Stamitz (1717-1757) was a Bohemian-born composer and father to Carl Stamitz (1745-1801) and Anton Stamitz (1750-~1809). All three Classical Era composers were part of the Mannheim Orchestra, a well-respected orchestra that included numerous composers who solidified Classical Era musical forms and expressive techniques. Johann…
George Frederick Handel is a German composer from the Baroque Era who is best known for his great choral work Messiah from which his famous Hallelujah Chorus comes. Handel had a great interest in music as a child which his mother supported but his father discouraged. Handel followed his father’s wishes and enrolled in law…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a Classical Era composer who loved to compose operas. He was taught music by his father and became a notable touring musician (managed by his father, of course) as a young boy. He amazed audiences with his command of the piano, violin and viola, as well as his skill in composition…
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) is a German Baroque era (1600-1750) composer who is known as the grandfather of modern music theory – his compositions were so well loved and studied, and focused so much on harmonic color, that our rules of music theory are modeled after what Bach did (and avoided) in most of his…
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is an Italian Baroque Era composer and ordained priest who was know as “the red priest” (likely due to his red hair). His prolific musical output, including nearly 500 concertos, over 70 sonatas, and around 50 operas, illustrate the tendency in the Baroque era of constantly composing new works for concerts and…
I posted a tutorial for Joachim Andersen Op 41 Etude #4, Allegro Animato. This completes my YouTube series on Op 41 – hooray! I hope that you find this new video, and others in the series, helpful. Check out the new video here. As a student, I recorded my practice sessions frequently on cassette tape…
