Composers

Felix Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg on February 3, 1809. By the time he was fourteen he had composed four operas, twelve sparkling string symphonies,…

Felix Mendelssohn was born in Hamburg on February 3, 1809. By the time he was fourteen he had composed four operas, twelve sparkling string symphonies,…

"She was performing for kings and queens internationally," Dr. Sarah Masterson says of 20th century American pianist and composer. "But in the U.S., she had trouble booking gigs outside of churches and auditoriums—African American sororities would host events—that sort of thing."

Ginastera was undoubtedly the most important Argentinean composer of the twentieth century.

Ginastera was undoubtedly the most important Argentinean composer of the twentieth century.

I find it fascinating that many of the greatest composers of the 19th century—composers such as Berlioz, Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Brahms, Dvorák, and Tchaikovsky—knew one another, and in many cases had very friendly personal and musical relationships.

I find it fascinating that many of the greatest composers of the 19th century—composers such as Berlioz, Schumann, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Brahms, Dvorák, and Tchaikovsky—knew one another, and in many cases had very friendly personal and musical relationships.

Walter Pater was an influential 19thcentury English author and critic, and in 1870 he wrote a fascinating essay about the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli.

Walter Pater was an influential 19thcentury English author and critic, and in 1870 he wrote a fascinating essay about the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli.

If I told you about a letter from a famous composer to his employers, a letter in which the composer complained that he needed a higher salary because he’d been making less money freelancing playing the organ at funerals, because there hadn’t been nearly enough disease going around – could you guess who the composer was?