German Composers
Viennese master actually born in Bonn, Germany
Who is Ludwig Van Beethoven?
Considered the father of Russian classical music, this man's first opera was titled "A Life for the Tsar"
Who is Mikhail Glinka?
Part of a great 19th century operetta composing team, this man wrote the music, rather than the lyrics.
Who is Sir Arthur Sullivan?
Considered one of the quintessential impressionist composers, this man’s first orchestral composition was “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun”
Who is Claude Debussy?
Although he forbade its public performance during his lifetime, Saint-Saens regarded this “musical zoo” with great affection.
What is "The Carnival of Animals"?
Although Mozart is considered one of the greatest child musical prodigies, this composer, born in 1809, was, too.
Who is Felix Mendelssohn?
The paintings and drawings of Victor Hartmann inspired this composer’s piano suite “Pictures at an Exhibition”
Who is Modest Mussorgsky?
A great fan of puns, this British composer, when asked whether his “Cocakaigne Overture” could also be construed as referring to cocaine, replied “Ether will do!”
Who is Sir Edward Elgar?
This composer’s first symphony was inspired by his infatuation with an English Shakespearean actress.
Who is Hector Berlioz?
This 20th-century British composer took a musical theme by Henry Purcell and developed it into an extended work he called “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”.
Who is Benjamin Britten?
This composer was also a journalist, and made this statement about Chopin’s premiere concerts in Paris: “Hats off, gentlemen, a genius!”
Who is Robert Schumann?
This member of “The Mighty Handful” of nationalistic composers was, by profession, a chemist.
Who is Alexander Borodin?
An interest in astrology led Gustav Holst to compose this massive orchestral suite.
What is "The Planets"?
This composer described what became his most famous work as “orchestration without music”.
Who is Maurice Ravel?
Although this Hungarian pianist and composer did not invent the symphonic poem, he composed many of them and developed them into a high musical art form.
Who is Franz Liszt?
Although known for his “Unfinished Symphony”, this Viennese composer actually started and failed to complete at least 5 symphonies.
Who is Franz Schubert?
Among many other orchestral works, this composer wrote “The Russian Easter Overture”.
Who is Niklai Rimsky-Korsakov?
Considered England’s first great composer, this baroque composer is buried next to the organ in Westminster Abbey
Who is Henry Purcell?
This composer’s fifth piano concerto was inspired by tunes he heard while cruising on the Nile River, writing them down on his shirt cuff.
Who is Camille Saint-Saens?
The title of this piece. Play from 12:07.
What is "The Rite of Spring"?
“2001, A Space Odyssey”, made prominent use of this composer’s music in its opening and closing theme.
Who is Richard Strauss?
This famous composer’s death on March 5, 1953 went almost unnoticed, because Josef Stalin had died on that same day.
Who is Sergei Prokofiev?
This composer wrote “Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis”, nine symphonies, and numerous musical pieces based on British folk music.
Who is Ralph Vaughan Williams?
Director of music in the court of King Louis XIV, this composer’s death was caused by an infection resulting from accidentally crushing his foot with his heavy wooden conductor’s staff.
Who is Jean-Baptiste Lully?
Name of the piece. Play from 33:50.
What is "Symphony No. 1 in e minor"?