The best classical music artists

Classical music

Establishing a concept of Classical Music can be a difficult task. Generally, usually encompasses almost all orchestral compositions. And although it is a fairly extended term outside of the historiographic or academic spheres, it is quite imprecise.

Some historians limit the production of Classical Music between 1550 and 1900. But it was not until the beginning of the XNUMXth century that the term made its appearance.

Other researchers and music theorists argue that Since the year 1000, in the ancient Middle Ages, some musical compositions can already be coined the adjective "Classics". In the same way, they point out that the production of this genre extends to the present day, with the technological and cultural variants imposed by each era.

In any case, it is a very important cultural event. The "classical" musician is a professional trained in his art, which is why this genre is also defined as Music of Cultured or Academic Tradition.

The big difference with any musical expression of popular origin, is the implementation a system of symbolic notation, a graphic method used by composers to structure their works. Improvisation and spontaneity are limited to a minimum. Although in the compositions, the talent is a fundamental aspect.

Great Classical Music Composers

 Next, we will review some of the classical music composers more important.. We will also review many others that, although their musical works present the characteristics of the genre, they did not live within what is known as the properly classical period, which is located between 1750 and 1820.

 Frederick Chopin (March 1, 1810 - October 17, 1849)

Polish composer, best known for his virtuosity as a piano player. It is considered as the quintessential representative of musical Romanticism, one of the most stylized periods within Classical Music.

Their compositions for piano are among the most identifiable within the universal history of the arts. Pieces like The funeral march o Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2They are true "classics".

Although less frequently, (also with less impact), it orchestral works, as well as Chamber and Vocal Music, always having the piano as the protagonist.

Ludwig Van Beethoven (December 16, 1770 - March 26, 1827)

Of classical composers with more vast and varied production. There was no musical style that he didn't work with.

Beethoven

Although his Nine Symphonies represent the most emblematic of his legacy, his compositions for piano, as well as his concerts or his sacred works, among others, are just as prominent.

Su Full Moon Sonata for piano, A Fifth Symphony o The Hymn to Joy (Ninth Symphony), are among his most identifiable compositions.

Antonio Vivaldi (March 4, 1678 - July 28, 1741)

Italian violinist and composer, representative of the maximum splendor of the baroque period.

Despite his multiple occupations as a priest and producer of opera and concert shows, composed around 750 works, including 400 concerts and 46 operas.

His most popular work is, without a doubt, The four Seasons.

Wojciech Kilar (July 17, 1932 - December 29, 2013)

This Polish composer achieved worldwide notoriety thanks to his works for cinema. His compositions for films such as Dracula (1993) by Francis Ford Coppola or El pianista (2002) by Roman Polanski are really remarkable.

However, his purely "classical" or academic works are equally outstanding. Two concerts for choir and orchestra stand out: Exodus, composed in 1984 and Te Deum of 2008.

Wolfang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791)

Mozart

Along with Beethoven, it is one of the most influential musicians in history, even well beyond the academic realm.

His work spanned all musical genres from the time in which he lived. Scholars of his life and legacy claim that he finished his first composition when he was just five years old. At the end of his short but fruitful life, he left more than 600 creations.

Highlighting some of his pieces above the rest is not easy. its Requiem in D Minor It is one of the most representative.

Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 - February 13, 1883)

In addition to being a composer, he was also an outstanding conductor and music theorist.. He successfully ventured into letters as a poet, essayist, and playwright.

Beyond his iconic musical work, he was a man of integral thought. He developed the concept of Total Artwork, in which all artistic manifestations are integrated: music, dance, poetry, painting, sculpture and architecture.

La sound strength and aggressiveness of some of his pieces, reflect what was a challenging and always controversial personality.

The Flying Dutchman y The Ride of the Valkyries, are of his most outstanding orchestral works.

Johann Sebastian Bach (March 1685 - July 1750)

Bach

Together with Vivaldi, His extensive musical work represents the peak moment of the Baroque period. He is also one of the most influential artists in academia.

As a composer, he is considered the last great master of counterpoint. As a prolific player of the harpsichord, he drew attention in his time for his ability to improvise in front of the keys.

Concerts, sonatas, suites, overtures, fantasies and variations stand out within its vast repertoire.

Toccata and fugue in D minor y Brandenburg Concerts, are two of his essential works.

Claude Debussy (August 22, 1862 - March 25, 1918)

This French composer entered the twentieth century, with innovative sounds for the time.

Considered as the forerunner of contemporary music, was at the same time an artist who valued and respected the classical sounds of the past.

The piano suite Moonlight it is its iconic composition, thanks, among other things, to its recurrent use in the cinema.

 Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864 - September 8, 1849)

Another musician who opened the way to contemporary sounds.

He set the tone with his Symphonic Poems, compositions whose source of inspiration is almost always in literature.

Macbeth, Don Quixote, Sancho Panza and Don Juanare some of the characters who found their musical representation thanks to this German composer.

His currently best known work is This is how Zarathustra spoke, free recreation of the writings of the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The notoriety of this piece is mainly due to the fact that its opening was used by Stanley Kubrick in his cinematographic opera 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Image sources: YouTube / Diario 16 / WOSU Radio


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