Composers with beards. Great Russian composers. The most famous composers in the world

Listen to something from the classics - what could be better?! Especially on weekends, when you want to relax, forget about the worries of the day, the worries of the work week, dream about the beautiful, and just cheer yourself up. Just think, the classics were created by brilliant authors so long ago that it’s hard to believe that something can survive so many years. And these works are still loved and listened to, they create arrangements and modern interpretations. Even in modern processing, the works of brilliant composers remain classical music. As Vanessa Mae admits, classics are genius, and all genius cannot be boring. Probably, all great composers have a special ear, a special sensitivity to tone and melody, which allowed them to create music that is enjoyed by dozens of generations not only of their compatriots, but also of classical music fans all over the world. If you are still in doubt if you love classical music, then you need to meet Benjamin Zander and you will see that in fact, you are already a longtime fan of beautiful music.

And today we will talk about the 10 most famous composers in the world.

Johann Sebastian Bach

The first place is deservedly Johann Sebastian Bach. A genius was born in Germany. The most talented composer wrote music for harpsichord and organ. The composer did not create a new style in music. But he was able to create perfection in all the styles of his time. He is the author of over 1000 essays. In his works Bach combined different musical styles with which he met throughout his life. Often musical romanticism was combined with the Baroque style. In life Johann Bach as a composer not receiving the recognition he deserved, interest in his music arose almost 100 years after his death. Today he is called one of the greatest composers ever living on earth. His uniqueness as a person, teacher and musician was reflected in his music. Bach laid the foundations of modern and contemporary music, dividing the history of music into pre-Bach and post-Bach. It is believed that music Bach gloomy and gloomy. His music is rather fundamental and solid, restrained and concentrated. Like the reflections of a mature, wise person. Creation Bach influenced many composers. Some of them took an example from his works or used themes from them. And musicians all over the world play music Bach admiring her beauty and perfection. One of the most notorious works "Brandenburg Concerts"- excellent proof that music Bach cannot be considered too gloomy:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart rightfully considered a genius. At the age of 4 he already played the violin and harpsichord freely, at the age of 6 he began to compose music, and at 7 he already skillfully improvised on the harpsichord, violin and organ, competing with famous musicians. Already at the age of 14 Mozart- a recognized composer, and at the age of 15 - a member of the music academies of Bologna and Verona. By nature, he had a phenomenal ear for music, memory and the ability to improvise. He created an amazing number of works - 23 operas, 18 sonatas, 23 piano concertos, 41 symphonies and much more. The composer didn't want to imitate, he tried to create a new model, reflecting the new personality of the music. It is no coincidence that music in Germany Mozart called "the music of the soul", in his works the composer showed the features of his sincere, loving nature. The greatest melodist attached special importance to the opera. operas Mozart- an epoch in the development of this type of musical art. Mozart widely recognized as one of the greatest composers: his uniqueness lies in the fact that he worked in all musical forms of his time and in all achieved the highest success. One of the most recognizable works "Turkish March":

Ludwig van Beethoven

Another great German Ludwig van Beethoven was an important figure of the Romantic-classical period. Even those who know nothing about classical music know about him. Beethoven is one of the most performed and respected composers in the world. The great composer witnessed the grandiose upheavals that took place in Europe and redrawn its map. These great coups, revolutions and military confrontations are reflected in the composer's work, especially symphonic. He embodied in music pictures of the heroic struggle. In immortal works Beethoven you will hear the struggle for freedom and brotherhood of people, unshakable faith in the victory of light over darkness, as well as dreams of freedom and happiness of mankind. One of the most famous and amazing facts of his life is that the ear disease developed into complete deafness, but despite this, the composer continued to write music. He was also considered one of the best pianists. Music Beethoven surprisingly simple and accessible to the understanding of the widest range of listeners. Generations change, and even eras, and music Beethoven still excites and pleases the hearts of people. One of his best work - "Moonlight Sonata":

Richard Wagner

With the name of a great Richard Wagner most often associated with his masterpieces "Wedding Chorus" or "Ride of the Valkyries". But he is known not only as a composer, but also as a philosopher. Wagner considered his musical works as a way of expressing a certain philosophical concept. FROM Wagner a new musical era of operas began. The composer tried to bring the opera closer to life, music for him is only a means. Richard Wagner- the creator of musical drama, the reformer of operas and the art of conducting, the innovator of the harmonic and melodic language of music, the creator of new forms of musical expression. Wagner- the author of the world's longest solo aria (14 minutes 46 seconds) and the world's longest classical opera (5 hours and 15 minutes). In life Richard Wagner was considered a controversial person who was either adored or hated. And often both at the same time. Mystical symbolism and anti-Semitism made him Hitler's favorite composer, but blocked the way for his music to Israel. However, neither supporters nor opponents of the composer deny his greatness as a composer. Great music from the very beginning Richard Wagner absorbs you without a trace, leaving no room for disputes and disagreements:

Franz Schubert

Austrian composer Franz Schubert- musical genius, one of the best song composers. He was only 17 when he wrote his first song. In one day he could write 8 songs. During his creative life, he created more than 600 compositions based on poems by more than 100 great poets, including Goethe, Schiller and Shakespeare. That's why Franz Schubert in the top 10. Although creativity Schubert very diverse, in terms of the use of genres, ideas and reincarnations, vocal-song lyrics prevail and determine in his music. Before Schubert the song was considered an insignificant genre, and it was he who elevated it to the degree of artistic perfection. Moreover, he combined seemingly unconnected song and chamber-symphonic music, which gave rise to a new direction of lyrical-romantic symphony. Vocal-song lyrics are a world of simple and deep, subtle and even intimate human experiences, expressed not by words, but by sound. Franz Schubert lived a very short life, only 31 years old. The fate of the composer's works is no less tragic than his life. After death Schubert many unpublished manuscripts remained, stored in bookcases and drawers of relatives and friends. Even those closest to him did not know everything he wrote, and for many years he was recognized mainly only as the king of song. Some of the composer's works were published only half a century after his death. One of the most beloved and famous works Franz Schubert - "Evening Serenade":

Robert Schumann

With a no less tragic fate, the German composer Robert Schumann- one of the best composers of the romantic era. He created amazingly beautiful music. To get an idea of ​​19th-century German Romanticism, just listen to "Carnival" Robert Schumann. He was able to break out of the musical traditions of the classical era, creating his own interpretation of the romantic style. Robert Schumann was gifted with many talents, and even for a long time could not decide between music, poetry, journalism and philology (he was a polyglot and freely translated from English, French and Italian). He was also an amazing pianist. And yet the main vocation and passion Schuman there was music. His poetic and deeply psychological music largely reflects the duality of the composer's nature, an outburst of passion and a retreat into the world of dreams, awareness of the vulgar reality and striving for the ideal. One of the masterpieces Robert Schumann which everyone needs to hear:

Frederic Chopin

Frederic Chopin, perhaps the most famous Pole in the world of music. Neither before nor after the composer was a musical genius of this level born in Poland. The Poles are incredibly proud of their great compatriot, and in their work Chopin more than once glorifies the motherland, admires the beauty of landscapes, laments the tragic past, dreams of a great future. Frederic Chopin- one of the few composers who wrote music exclusively for the piano. There are no operas or symphonies in his creative heritage, but piano pieces are presented in all their diversity. Artworks Chopin- the basis of the repertoire of many famous pianists. Frederic Chopin- Polish composer, who is also known as a talented pianist. He lived only 39 years, but managed to create many masterpieces: ballads, preludes, waltzes, mazurkas, nocturnes, polonaises, etudes, sonatas and much, much more. One of them - "Ballad No. 1, in G minor".

The 20th century is considered to be a time of great inventions that made people's lives much better and, in some respects, easier. However, there is an opinion that nothing new was created in the world of music at that time, but only the works of previous generations were used. This list is intended to refute such an unfair conclusion and to honor the many musical works created after 1900, as well as their authors.

Edgar Varèse - Ionization (1933)

Varèse is a French composer of electronic music who used in his work new sounds created on the basis of the popularization of electricity. He explored timbres, rhythms and dynamics, often using rather rough percussion sounds. None of the compositions will be able to form an idea of ​​Varèse's work as fully as "Ionization", created for 13 percussion. Among the instruments are the usual orchestral bass drums, snare drums, and in this piece you can also hear the roar of a lion and the howl of a siren.

Karlheinz Stockhausen - Zyklus (1959)

Stockhausen, like Varèse, sometimes created extreme works. For example, Zyklus is a piece written for percussion. It means "circle". This composition received such a name not by chance. It can be read from anywhere in any direction, and even upside down.

George Gershwin - Blues Rhapsody (1924)

George Gershwin is a truly American composer. He often uses blues and jazz scales in his compositions, instead of the diatonic scales commonly used by most musicians of the Western classical tradition. Gershwin's "Rhapsody" in the blues style, his greatest work, the one thanks to which you will definitely remember him forever. It often serves as a reminder of the 1920s, the Jazz Age, a time of wealth and luxury. It's a longing for a good time gone by.

Philip Glass - Einstein on the Beach (1976)

Philip Glass is a contemporary composer who continues to create in abundance today. The composer's style is minimalism, gradually developing ostinato in his music.
Glass's most famous opera, Einstein on the Beach, ran for 5 hours with no intermission. It was so long that the audience came and went as they pleased. It is interesting in that it has absolutely no plot, but only shows various scenes describing Einstein's theories and, in general, his life.

Krzysztof Penderecki - Polish Requiem (1984)

Penderecki is a composer who was passionate about expanding techniques and unique playing styles on conventional instruments. He is perhaps better known for his other work Lament for the Victims of Hiroshima, but this list included the largest one - the Polish Requiem, which combines one of the oldest forms of musical work (the author of the very first Requiem was Okegem, who lived in the Renaissance ) and unconventional performance style. Here Penderecki uses shrieks, short, sharp cries from the choir and voice, and the addition of Polish text at the end completes the image of a truly unique musical art.

Alban Berg - Wozzeck (1922)

Berg is the composer who brought serialism into popular culture. His opera Wozzeck, based on a surprisingly unheroic plot, became the first opera in the characteristic bold style of the 20th century, and thus marked the beginning of the development of the avant-garde on the opera stage.

Aaron Copland - Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)

Copland composed music in a style different from that of his American colleague George Gershwin. While many of Gershwin's works are suited to cities and clubs, Copland's use of rural motifs includes truly American themes such as cowboys.
Copland's most famous work is Fanfare for the Common Man. When asked who exactly it was dedicated to, Aaron replied that it was an ordinary person, since it was ordinary people who significantly influenced the victory of the United States in World War II.

John Cage - 4'33" (1952)

Cage was a revolutionary - he first began to use non-traditional instruments in music, such as keys and paper. His most striking innovation is the modification of the piano, where he stuffed washers and nails into the instrument, resulting in dry percussive sounds.
4'33" is basically 4 minutes 33 seconds of music. However, the music you hear is not being played by the artist. You hear random noises in the concert hall, the noise of air conditioning or the hum of cars outside. What was considered silence is not silence - this is what the Zen school teaches, which became Cage's source of inspiration.

Witold Lutosławski - Concerto for orchestra (1954)

Lutosławski is one of Poland's greatest composers, specializing in aleatoric music. He became the first musician to be awarded Poland's highest state award, the Order of the White Eagle.
"Concerto for Orchestra" is the result of the composer's inspiration from the work "Concerto for Orchestra" by Béla Bartók. It includes an imitation of the Baroque Concerto Grosso genre intertwined with Polish melodies. The most striking thing is that this work is atonal, it does not correspond to a major or minor key.

Igor Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring (1913)

Stravinsky is one of the greatest composers who ever lived. He seems to have taken a little bit from a large number of composers. He composed in the styles of serialism, neoclassicism and neo-baroque.
Stravinsky's most famous composition is The Rite of Spring, which was a scandalous success. At the premiere, Camille Saint-Saens ran out of the hall at the very beginning, scolding the bassoon's excessively high register, in his opinion, the instrument was used incorrectly. The audience booed the performance, indignant at the primitive rhythms and vulgar costumes. The crowd literally attacked the performers. True, the ballet soon gained popularity and won the love of the audience, becoming one of the most influential works of the great composer.

It is safe to say about each of them that he is the greatest composer who has ever been, 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 have composed music of the highest caliber and have sought to push the boundaries of classical music to new limits. The list does not contain any order, such as importance or personal preference. Simply 10 great composers you should know.

1. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) The most important figure in world classical music. One of the most performed and respected composers in the world. He worked in all the genres that existed in his time, including opera, ballet, music for dramatic performances, and choral compositions. Instrumental works are considered the most significant in his legacy: piano, violin and cello sonatas, concertos for pianoforte, for violin, quartets, overtures, symphonies. The founder of the romantic period in classical music.

An interesting fact: Beethoven first wanted to dedicate his third symphony (1804) to Napoleon, the Composer was fascinated by 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 to Napoleon on the title page and wrote only one word - "Heroic".

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata:

2. Johann Sebastian Bach (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. All significant genres of that time are represented in his work, except for opera; he summarized the achievements of the musical art of the Baroque period. Ancestor of the most famous musical dynasty.

Interesting fact: During his lifetime, Bach was so underestimated that less than a dozen of his works were printed.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach:

3. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) A great Austrian composer, instrumentalist and conductor, a representative of the Vienna Classical School, a virtuoso violinist, harpsichordist, organist, conductor, he had a phenomenal musical ear, memory and ability to improvise. As a composer who has excelled in every genre, he is rightfully considered one of the greatest composers in the history of classical music.

Interesting fact: As a child, Mozart memorized and recorded the Miserere (Catholic chant to the text of the 50th Psalm of David) by the Italian Grigorio Allegri, having listened to it only once.

Mozart's Little Night Serenade:

4. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) German composer, conductor, playwright, philosopher. He had a significant impact on European culture at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, especially modernism. Wagner's operas amaze with their grand 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 Franz Liszt's arrest.

"Ride of the Valkyries" from Wagner's opera "Valkyrie":

5. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) Russian composer, one of the best melodists, conductor, teacher, music critic. His works have made an invaluable contribution to world musical culture. One of the most popular composers among classical music lovers, Tchaikovsky's unique style successfully combines the Western symphonic heritage of Beethoven and Schumann with the Russian traditions inherited from Mikhail Glinka.

Interesting fact: From his youth, Tchaikovsky had an irresistible thirst for knowledge, and in a variety of fields. So, one of the first among his contemporaries, he met with a new invention of the XIX century, which was destined for a great future. It was Edison's phonograph that ushered in the era of sound recording.

"Waltz of the Flowers" from Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker":

6. Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Italian composer, central figure of the Italian opera school. Verdi had a sense of the stage, temperament and impeccable skill. He did not deny opera traditions (unlike Wagner), but rather developed them (the traditions of Italian opera), he transformed Italian opera, filled it with realism, gave it the unity of the whole.

Interesting fact: Verdi was an Italian nationalist and was elected to the first Italian parliament in 1860, after Italy's independence from Austria.

Overture to Verdi's La Traviata:

7. Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971) Russian (American - after emigration) composer, conductor, pianist. One of the most important composers of the twentieth century. Stravinsky's work has been united throughout his career, although at different periods the style of his works was different, but the core and Russian roots remained, which manifested themselves in all his works, he is considered one of the leading innovators of the 20th century. His innovative use of rhythm and harmony has inspired and continues to inspire many musicians, and not just in classical music.

Fun Fact: During World War I, Roman customs officials confiscated a portrait of Stravinsky by Pablo Picasso when the composer was leaving Italy. The portrait was painted in a futuristic manner and the customs officers mistook these circles and lines for some kind of encrypted secret material.

Suite from Stravinsky's The Firebird:

8. Johann Strauss (1825-1899) Austrian light music composer, conductor and violinist. "King of Waltzes" - he worked in the genre of dance music and opperta. His musical heritage includes more than 500 waltzes, polkas, square dances 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: The father of Johann Strauss is also Johann and also a famous musician, and therefore the “king of waltzes” is called the younger or son, his brothers Joseph and Eduard were also famous composers.

Strauss Waltz "On the beautiful blue Danube":

9. Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov (1873-1943) Russian composer, pianist and conductor, the largest representatives of Russian and world musical culture of the late 19th - first half of the 20th centuries. Rachmaninov's style, which grew out of late romanticism, goes far beyond the post-romantic tradition and at the same time does not belong to any of the stylistic currents of the musical avant-garde of the 20th century. Rachmaninov's work stands apart in the world music of the 20th century, his style has remained uniquely individual and original, unparalleled in world art.

Interesting fact: The premiere of Rachmaninov's First Symphony ended in complete failure, both because of poor performance and because of the innovative nature of the music, far ahead of its time. This event caused a serious nervous illness.

Rachmaninov Concerto Piano Concerto 4 – Movement 1:

10. Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828) Austrian composer, one of the prominent representatives of the Viennese classical music school and one of the founders of romanticism in music. In 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 got together and played Schubert's music. These meetings were called "Schubertiads" (Schubertiads). Some first fan club!

Ave Maria Schubert:

Among these melodies there is a motive for any mood: romantic, positive or dreary, to relax and not think about anything, or, conversely, to collect your thoughts.

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The Italian composer and pianist works in the direction of minimalism, often turns to ambient and skillfully combines classical music with other musical styles. He is known to a wide circle for atmospheric compositions that have become soundtracks for films. For example, you will surely recognize the music from the French tape "1 + 1" written by Einaudi.

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Glass is one of the most controversial personalities in the world of modern classics, which is either praised to the skies, or to the nines. He has been with his own Philip Glass Ensemble for half a century and has written music for more than 50 films, including The Truman Show, The Illusionist, Taste of Life and The Fantastic Four. The melodies of the American minimalist composer blur the line between classical and popular music.

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The author of many soundtracks, the best film composer of 2008 according to the European Film Academy and a post-minimalist. Captivated critics from the first album, Memoryhouse, in which Richter's music was superimposed on reading poetry, and subsequent albums also used fictional prose. In addition to writing his own ambient compositions, Max arranges classical works: Vivaldi's The Four Seasons topped the iTunes charts in his arrangement.

This creator of instrumental music from Italy is not associated with sensational cinema, but is already known as a composer, virtuoso and experienced piano teacher. If you describe the work of Marradi in two words, then these will be the words "sensual" and "magical". His compositions and covers will appeal to those who love retro classics: the notes of the last century show through in the motives.

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The famous film composer has created musical accompaniment for many high-grossing films and cartoons, including Gladiator, Pearl Harbor, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, Interstellar, Madagascar, The Lion King. His star flaunts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and on his shelf are Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe. Zimmer's music is as different as the films listed, but regardless of the tone, it strikes a chord.

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Hisaishi is one of the most famous Japanese composers, having won four Japanese Academy Film Awards for best film score. Joe became famous for writing the soundtrack for the anime Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli or Takeshi Kitano's tapes, you'll surely admire Hisaishi's music. It is mostly light and light.

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This Icelandic multi-instrumentalist is just a boy compared to the listed masters, but by his 30s he managed to become a recognized neoclassicist. He recorded accompaniment to a ballet, won a BAFTA award for the soundtrack to the British TV series "Murder on the Beach" and released 10 studio albums. Arnalds' music is reminiscent of a harsh wind on a deserted seashore.

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Lee Rum's most famous works are Kiss the Rain and River Flows in You. The Korean New Age composer and pianist writes popular classics that are understandable to listeners on any continent, with any musical taste and education. His light and sensual melodies for many became the beginning of love for piano music.

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The American composer is interesting in that, but at the same time he writes the most pleasant and quite popular music. O'Halloran's tunes have been used in Top Gear and several films. Perhaps the most successful soundtrack album was for the melodrama Like Crazy.

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This composer and pianist knows a lot about the art of conducting and how to create electronic music. But his main field is modern classics. Cacchapalla has recorded many albums, three of them with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His music flows like water, it's great to relax under it.

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

10 PHOTOS (VIDEO)

Franz Peter Schubert is 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, as well as a large number of chamber and solo piano music.

"Evening Serenade"

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

"Hungarian Dance No. 5".

Georg Friedrich Handel is a German and English composer of the Baroque era, he wrote about 40 operas, many organ concertos, as well as chamber music. Handel's music has been played at the coronation 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 little 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 a significant contribution 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, the 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, performed in Russia and abroad as a conductor.

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

Frederic Francois Chopin is a Polish composer who is also considered one of the best pianists of all time. He wrote many piano pieces including 3 sonatas and 17 waltzes.

"Rain waltz".

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

"Elven 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 small pieces. In total, he wrote 626 works, including 50 symphonies and 55 concertos. 9.Beethoven 10.Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach - 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"