famous classical composers. About misinformation in the names of musical compositions or what is "music of angels"

In 1968, Yale University professor Eric Segal wrote the novel Love Story. Unassuming but very good story about two young lovers immediately became a bestseller, despite the tragic ending - which is not typical for America, where they love happy endings. The following year, Hollywood director Arthur Hiller began filming. The film of the same name was a huge success and was nominated for an Oscar, an award from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts, in seven nominations at once, but was awarded only one: for music written by composer and pianist Francis Ley. The melody for "Love story" is not the only famous one to his credit: Lay composed songs for Edith Piaf, Juliette Greco, Yves Montana, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Holiday and Frank Sinatra. He is the author of music for the films "Man and Woman", "To Live to Live", "Mayerling" and other famous films. In addition to the "Oscar", Lei received for the music for "Love Story" more international award Golden Globe.

At first, the leading theme of the film was instrumental, then poet Carl Sigman added lyrics called "Where do I begin." However, the audience, as usual, made an amendment, changing the title of the song according to the title of the story and the film. The ballad is best known for its performance by singer Andy Williams, whose television show was one of the highest rated in the United States in the sixties. It is difficult to say whether television contributed to the song's popularity or whether the process was interpenetrating. One way or another, now this veteran of the pop scene is remembered, perhaps, exclusively for "Love story".

Of course, it would be unfair if the “Love Story” were performed only by male representatives. On the “feminine side”, Mireille Mathieu did the best rehashing, which is not at all surprising, since the author of the melody was her accompanist at one time. And in general, having, as it were, France as its historical homeland, the song simply could not fail to sound on French before it was sung on many more. Probably, this song is also why people like it so much that the theme "Love story" in all three of its incarnations - a story, a film and a song - proclaimed main idea: "Love is when you don't have to say" sorry "...".

Russian text by Robert Rozhdestvensky

Touched the candle
Breath of the evening
I won't upset you
Nothing to be afraid
but i just want
To say about
that I had love...

There was love...
It was here, look
One in a thousand
stretch out your hand.
And suddenly it will be found -
you open your heart
Is it in him
Yesterday was love...

There was love.
She passed
Like a train at midnight
Where to now
run for help
Who to blame
and how to get it back
I'm sorry,
for what, I don't know
I'm sorry,
for what, I don't know
I'm sorry
for anything.
In heart and blood
Solid mysteries.
And people out of love
They're probably getting old.
They will tell me: "Live!"
I will live,
I will know - love was ...

There was love ... That's all.
The earth is shaking
from my cry.
Love ends
but I'm sorry for that
Who never said:
"There was love..."
Love was...

Any of the composers that will be discussed in this article can easily be called the greatest composer classical music ever existing.

Although it is impossible to compare music created over several centuries, all these composers stand out very clearly from their contemporaries. In their works, they sought to expand the boundaries of classical music, to reach new heights in it, not previously attainable.

All the great classical music composers listed below are worthy of the first place, so the list is not presented by the importance of the composer, but in the form of information for review.

For world classics, Beethoven is a very significant figure. One of the most performed composers in the world. He composed his works in absolutely all existing genres of his time. It is a harbinger of the period of romanticism in music. Instrumental works are recognized as the most significant of all the legacy left by Ludwig van Beethoven.

The greatest composer and organist in world music history. is representative of the Baroque period. In his entire life he wrote over a thousand works, however, during his lifetime only about a dozen were published. He worked in all genres of his time with the exception of opera. He is the ancestor of the Bach dynasty, the most famous in music.

Composer and conductor, virtuoso violinist and organist from Austria, possessed an incredible musical memory and amazing hearing. Started creating with early years and excelled in all genres of music, for which he is rightfully recognized as one of the great composers of classical music in history.

The most mysterious and mysterious work of Mozart - "Requiem", was never completed by the author. The reason for this was sudden death at thirty-five. The Requiem was completed by his student Franz Süsmeier.

Great German composer, playwright, conductor and philosopher. He had a huge impact on modernism and, in general, the whole European culture at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

By order of Ludwig II of Bavaria, an opera house was built in Bayreuth according to Wagner's ideas. It was intended exclusively for the works of the composer. Wagner's musical dramas continue to this day.

Russian composer, conductor and musical critic belongs to one of the best melodists in the world. His work has made a huge contribution to the development of world classics. Among classical music lovers, he is a very popular composer. In his works, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky successfully combined the style of Western symphonies with Russian traditions.

A great composer from Austria, and a conductor, and a violinist, and recognized by all the peoples of the world as the “king of the waltz”. His work was devoted to light dance music and operetta. His legacy includes over five hundred waltzes, quadrilles, polkas, as well as several operettas and ballets. In the nineteenth century, thanks to Strauss, the waltz gained incredible popularity in Vienna.

Italian composer, virtuoso guitarist and violinist. A very bright and unusual personality in musical history, is a recognized genius in the world art of music. All the work of this great man was shrouded in a certain mystery, thanks to Paganini himself. He discovered in his works new, previously unknown types of violin technique. He is also one of the founders of romanticism in music.

All these great composers of classical music had a very big influence on its development and promotion. Their music, tested by time and generations, is in demand even today, perhaps even to a much greater extent than during their lifetime. They created immortal works who continue to live and pass on to the next generations, carrying emotions and feelings that make you think about the eternal.

So one of the greatest composers Ludwig van Beethoven has been recognized for the third century now. His works leave a deep imprint in the souls and minds of the most sophisticated listeners. A real success at the time was the premiere of the composer's 9th D minor symphony, at the end of which the famous choral “Ode to Joy” to the text by Schiller sounds. In one of contemporary films a good montage of the entire symphony is presented. Be sure to check it out!

L. van Beethoven Symphony No. 9 in D minor (video editing)

Here is a list of 10 composers you should know. 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 these composers stand out among their contemporaries as the composers who composed the music. the highest level and 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.

Each composer is accompanied by a quotable fact of his life, remembering which you will look like an expert. And by clicking on the link to the names, you will recognize him full biography. And of course, you can listen to one of the significant works of each master.

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, choral compositions. The most significant in his legacy are considered instrumental works: piano, violin and cello sonatas, concertos for pianoforte, for violin, quartets, overtures, symphonies. The founder of the romantic period in classical music.

Interesting fact.

Beethoven first wanted to dedicate his third symphony (1804) to Napoleon, the composer was fascinated by the personality of 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 title page and wrote only one word - "Heroic".

"Moonlight Sonata" L. Beethoven, listen:

2. (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 his works are significant genres of that time, except for opera; he summarized the achievements musical art 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 published.

Toccata and fugue in D minor by J.S. Bach, listen:

3. (1756-1791)

Great Austrian composer, instrumentalist and conductor, 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.

While still a child, Mozart memorized and wrote down the Miserere (Cat. chant to the text of the 50th Psalm of David) by the Italian Grigorio Allegri, having listened to it only once.

"Little Night Serenade" by W. A. ​​Mozart, listen:

4. (1813-1883)

German composer, conductor, playwright, philosopher. Had a significant impact on European culture turn XIX-XX 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 arrest by Franz Liszt.

"Ride of the Valkyries" from the opera "Valkyrie" by R. Wagner, listen

5. (1840-1893)

Italian composer, central figure Italian opera school. Verdi had a sense of the stage, temperament and impeccable skill. He did not deny operatic traditions (unlike Wagner), but rather developed them (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 D.Verdi's opera "La Traviata", listen:

7. Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Russian (American - after emigration) composer, conductor, pianist. One of the most important composers of the twentieth century. Stravinsky's work is unified throughout his career, although in 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 twentieth century. His innovative use of rhythm and harmony has inspired and continues to inspire many musicians, and not just in classical music.

Interesting fact.

During World War I, Roman customs officers 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 the ballet by I.F. Stravinsky " Firebird", listen:

8. Johann Strauss (1825-1899)

Austrian composer light music, conductor and violinist. "King of Waltzes", he worked in the genre dance music and operettas. In his musical heritage 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.

Father of Johann Strauss - also Johann and also famous musician, therefore, the "king of waltzes" is called the younger or son, his brothers Joseph and Eduard were also famous composers.

Waltz by I. Strauss "On the Beautiful Blue Danube", listen:

9. Sergei Vasilyevich Rahmaninov (1873-1943)

Austrian composer, one of the prominent representatives of the Viennese classical music school and one of the founders of romanticism in music. For my 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 would get together and play Schubert's music. These meetings were called "Schubertiads" (Schubertiads). Some first fan club!

"Ave Maria" F.P. Schubert, listen:

Continuing the theme of the great composers you should know, new material.

Some evil genius persists in signing popular music records with random beautiful names. The authors indicate classical composers never wrote these works. "Music of Angels" became, probably, the most popular question on music search forums. So, a revelatory list (although, under paragraph 20, an example of a “good” hoax):

1. Mozart - Music of Angels- Wrong name, wrote this melody Yiruma and it's called "River Flows in You"(Download sheet music), rarer replacement - Jan Kaczmarek- Goodbye (from the movie Hachiko) (Download sheet music). Another melody from the film Hachiko can be found under the name Wilhelm Richard Wagner - "Spring Waltz"

2. Composition "Melody of Tears" (or "Tears of Rain") Beethoven never wrote, VKontakte flaunts an erroneous name that ignorant people came up with. This composition was written by a South Korean pianist under the pseudonym The Daydream.
original song title: Tears(Download sheet music)

3. “Mozart W. A. ​​Pure Symphony. Closer to the dream."- wrong name, in fact, this composition was written by the team secret garden and it's called The promise(Download sheet music)

4. Music for the film "Requiem for a Dream"(notes) wrote Clint Mansell, but not WAGNER and not MOZART! (Wikipedia contains an error in the article about the film, do not read anything there)

5. "Chopin Frederic - Spring Waltz (or autumn waltz). (4.27)"Chopin never wrote this either., composition Mariage D'amour with a duration of 4:27 belongs to the composers Paul de Senneville And Olivier Toussaint(Download sheet music). Performed by Richard Clayderman

6. Wagner - wedding march / midsummer night's dream / overture — song title is wrong VKontakte, music composed by Jan Tiersen and called Yann Tiersen - Comptine d'un autre ete: L'apres midi. Wagner has a wedding chorus from the opera Lohengrin. (Download sheet music) Second version of Hans Günter Wagener - Sommernachtstraum

7. D. D. Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5. (Symphony of the soul) or else it is called prelude - name is wrong this song belongs to the group secret garden and it's called Song from A Secret Garden.(Download sheet music)

8. Chopin Frederic - Spring Waltz. (1:31)" — another wrong name, a melody with a duration of 1:31 was written by Jan Tiersen and is called Yann Tiersen - Mother's Journey.(Download sheet music) It is worth noting that no matter how they call Tiersen, human imagination is limitless.

9. "Chopin Frederic - April of dreams."- real name Yanni Hrisomallis - One Man's Dream(Download sheet music)

10. Strauss - Romeo and Juliet- it's not Strauss, but Nino Rotawho wrote the soundtrack for Romeo and Juliet, is called What Is a Youth?

11. Wilhelm Richard Wagner - Träne (Wagner - tear) — wrong name, it's actually Dmitry Malikov - Goodbye, cruel world

12. Verdi - Sicilian Vespers — wrong name, composer of the film's title theme « Godfather» all the same Nino Rota.

13. Strauss - Slow Waltz- real name Secret Garden

14. Puccini - melancholy (violin)also attributed to Verdi, Vivaldi (Vivaldi generally died long before the appearance of Puccini) and Vanessa May- these are all wrong names, true composer Edvin Marton processed the melody from Aria Cavaradossi.

16. Richard Wagner - Requiem for love; Diesses Leben; Life —wrong name, actually it is Secret Garden

17. Beethoven Silense — wrong name, actually it is Ernesto Cortazar - Beethoven's Silence

18. Claude Debussy - Heroic lullaby— wrong name, actually it is Carter Burwell - Bella's Lullaby

19. "Adagio" Albinoni— famous myth, in fact the composer is Remo Giazotto not Albinoni.

20. Giulio Caccini - Ave Maria. the truth of this composition is told

21. Clou - Listening to silence — wrong name, actually it is Origen - Dance of the Clouds

22. Johann Sebastian Bach - Prelude No. 13- in fact it is Ketil Bjornstad Prelude 13 (from the movie Loneliness in the Net)

Classical music is nowhere near as popular today as it was in its golden age from the 17th century to the early 20th century, but it is still impressive and an inspiration to many. Known musical composers who created these great works may have lived hundreds of years ago, but their masterpieces still remain unsurpassed.

Notable German composers

Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the most important names in the history of classical music. He was an innovator of his era, expanding the scope of the symphony, sonata, concerto, quartet, and combining vocals and instruments in new ways, although vocal genre he wasn't that interested. The public did not immediately accept his innovative ideas, but fame did not take too long to wait, so even during the life of Beethoven, his work was duly appreciated.

Beethoven's whole life was marked by a struggle for healthy hearing, but deafness nevertheless overtook him: some of the great composer's most important works were created during the last ten years of his life, when he was no longer able to hear. One of the most famous works Beethoven are "Moonlight Sonata" (No. 14), the play "For Elise", Symphony No. 9, Symphony No. 5.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Another world famous German composer is Johann Sebastian Bach - a brilliant author, whose works in the 19th century aroused interest even among those who were not interested in serious, classical music. He wrote and organ music, and vocal-instrumental, and music for other instruments and instrumental ensembles, although he still managed to bypass the operatic genre. Most often, he was engaged in writing cantatas, fugues, preludes and oratorios, as well as choral arrangements. It was Bach, along with Georg Friedrich Handel - recent composers the Baroque era.

Throughout his life, he created more than a thousand pieces of music. Most famous works Bach: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565, Pastoral BWV 590, Brandenburg Concertos, Peasant and Coffee Cantatas, Matthew Passion mass.

Richard Wagner

Wagner was not only one of the most influential composers in the entire world, but also one of the most controversial - because of his anti-Semitic worldview. He was a supporter new form opera, which he called "musical drama" - in it all the musical and dramatic elements merged together. To this end, he developed a compositional style in which the orchestra plays the same strong dramatic role as well as singer-songwriters.

Wagner himself wrote his own librettos, which he called "poems". Most of Wagner's plots were based on European myths and legends. He is best known for his eighteen-hour cycle of epic operas in four parts called Der Ring des Nibelungen, the opera Tristan und Iseult, and the musical drama Parsifal.

Famous Russian composers

Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka

Glinka is usually referred to as the founder of the Russian national tradition in music, but his Russian operas offered a synthesis Western music with Russian melodies. Glinka's first opera was A Life for the Tsar, which was well received at its first production in 1836, but the second opera, Ruslan and Lyudmila, with a libretto written by Pushkin, was not so popular. However, she showed new type dramaturgy - heroic-historical opera, or epic.

Glinka became the first of the Russian composers who achieved world recognition. Most notable works Mikhail Ivanovich: the opera "Ivan Susanin", a waltz-fantasy for a symphony orchestra and an overture-symphony on a circular Russian theme.

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Tchaikovsky is one of the most popular and famous composers in the world. For many, he is also the most beloved Russian composer. Tchaikovsky's work, however, is much more western than the works written by other composers of his contemporaries, as he used both folk Russian melodies and was guided by the legacy of German and Austrian composers. Tchaikovsky himself was not only a composer, but also a conductor, music teacher and critic.

No others famous composers Russia, perhaps, is not famous for creating ballet productions in the way that Tchaikovsky is famous for. Tchaikovsky's most famous ballets are The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. He also wrote operas; the most famous - " Queen of Spades", "Eugene Onegin".

Sergei Vasilyevich Rahmaninov

The work of Sergei Vasilyevich absorbed the traditions of post-romanticism and took shape in a unique style in the musical culture of the 20th century, unlike any other in the world. He always gravitated towards the big ones. musical forms. Basically, his works are full of melancholy, drama, strength and rebellion; they often displayed images of the folk epic.

Rachmaninov was known not only as a composer, but also as a pianist, so it is precisely piano works. He began learning piano music at the age of four. Rachmaninov's defining genre was the piano concerto and orchestra. Rachmaninoff's most famous works are the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and four concertos for piano and orchestra.

Famous composers of the world

Giuseppe Francesco Verdi

It is difficult to imagine the 19th century without the music of Giuseppe Verdi, one of the classics of the Italian musical culture. Most of all, Verdi strove to bring musical realism to the opera production, he always worked directly with singers and librettists, interfered in the work of conductors and did not tolerate false performance. He said that he liked everything that was beautiful in art.

Like many composers, Verdi gained the greatest popularity thanks to the creation of operas. The most famous among them are the operas Othello, Aida, Rigoletto.

Frederic Chopin

The most famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin always illuminated the beauty of his native land in his works and believed in its greatness in the future. His name is pride Polish people. Chopin stands out in the field of classical music in that he wrote works only for piano performance than others. famous composers with their variety of symphonies and operas; now Chopin's works have become the basis for the work of today's pianists.

Chopin was engaged in writing piano pieces, nocturnes, mazurkas, etudes, waltzes, polonaises and other forms, and the most famous among them are the Autumn Waltz, Nocturne in C sharp minor, Spring Rhapsody, Impromptu Fantasy in C sharp minor.

Edvard Grieg

The famous Norwegian composer and musical figure Edvard Grieg specialized in chamber vocal and piano music. Grieg's work was significantly influenced by the legacy German romanticism. bright and recognizable style Grieg can be characterized by such a direction as musical impressionism.

Often, when creating his works, Grieg was inspired by folk tales, melodies, and legends. His work had a huge impact on the development of Norwegian musical culture and art in general. The most famous works of the composer are the overture "In Autumn", the concerto for piano and orchestra of 1868, the music for the play "Peer Gynt", the suite "From the time of Holberg".

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

And, of course, the most famous composers of all time cannot do without this name, which even people who are far from classical music know. An Austrian composer and virtuoso performer, Mozart created a number of operas, concertos, sonatas and symphonies that had a huge impact on classical music and, in fact, shaped it.

He grew up as a child prodigy: he learned to play the piano at the age of three, and at five he was already creating small pieces of musical works. The first symphony was written by him at the age of eight, the first opera at the age of twelve. Mozart had a phenomenal ear for music and an amazing ability to play many musical instruments and improvisation.

During his life, Mozart created more than six hundred musical works, some of the most famous among which are the opera Le Nozze di Figaro, the symphony No. 41 Jupiter, the 3rd part of the sonata No. 11 Turkish March, the concerto for flute and harp with orchestra and "Requiem" in D minor, K.626.

Listen the best works world classical music in this video:

Take it, tell your friends!

Read also on our website:

show more

Have you heard somewhere good song and thought: “How cool it would be to play it!”. Indeed, knowing the basics music notation, you can discover endless musical possibilities. How to learn notes - find out in our article.