WHAT IS A COMPOSER?

A composer is someone who writes music. WHAT IS A COMPOSER?

With a partner, review some of the names of the musical periods. Be prepared to share your answers with the class. QUICK REVIEW…

TIME’S UP!

Antiquity Middle Ages/Medieval Renaissance Baroque Classical Romantic Modern Present MUSICAL PERIODS

Famous Composers of the Time: Henry Purcell Antonio Vivaldi George Frideric Handel Johann Sebastian Bach BAROQUE

British Worked as a church organist but wrote mostly for the voice. One opera: Dido and Aeneas Some instrumental music If Music Be the Food of Love: HENRY PURCELL

Italian Learned violin from his father and played his whole life Became a priest – his nickname was “Red Priest” because of his hair. Had bad asthma. Taught at a girl’s orphanage. ANTONIO VIVALDI

Wrote concertos, operas, church music, and much more. Wrote over 500 compositions! Most famous for his concerto: The Four Seasons ANTONIO VIVALDI (CONTINUED)

German Had problems with his father about his career choices Worked for royalty Composed oratorios and operas Hallelujah Chorus GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

German Worked as a church organist Worked for royalty Taught at the St. Thomas Church and School Wrote music for organ, keyboard instruments, orchestra, choir, and concertos Famous for his Toccata and Fugue: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Famous Composers of the Time: Franz Joseph Haydn Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart CLASSICAL

Austrian Misbehaved in school Worked for the Esterhazy Court Published his music all over Europe Known for his symphonies bE FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN

Austrian Child prodigy: Began writing music at the age of 5 Published his first piece of music at age 7 Wrote his first opera at age 12 Played piano and violin in a European tour with his sister, Maria Anna (nicknamed Nannerl) Moved to Vienna but had trouble finding work. Died at age 35 having composed symphonies, operas, concertos, masses, and chamber music WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

Famous Composers of the Time: Franz Schubert Ludwig von Beethoven Claude Debussy Antonin Dvorak Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ROMANTIC

Austrian Sang and played many instruments Member of the Court Chapel Choir Originally wrote for his school orchestra and his family to perform Also wrote piano, choral, chamber music, and over 600 songs. FRANZ SCHUBERT

German Born into a performing family One of the first composers to make a living without a patron or the church Began losing his hearing at the age of 30 Continued to write music: 9 symphonies, 1 opera, string quartets, chamber, choral, and piano music LUDWIG VON BEETHOVEN

French Inspired by artists Turned visual impressionism into a musical form CLAUDE DEBUSSY

Czechoslovakian Father was a butcher Worked as a church organist but wanted to compose Won a government competition Became a college professor Wrote nine symphonies including “The New World Symphony” ANTONIN DVORAK

Russian Parents forced him to study law Eventually left the law for a musical conservatory Patroness: Nadezhda von Meck Famous ballets include The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and the Nutcracker PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Famous Composers of the Time: Leonard Bernstein Aaron Copland George Gershwin John Cage MODERN

Massachusetts Family beauty business Majored in music at Harvard Assistant conductor of the NY Philharmonic was big break Famous for conducting, musical theater, and “Young People’s Concerts” LEONARD BERNSTEIN

Brooklyn, New York Studied in France Focused compositions on America Ballets (Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid) and film scores (Of Mice and Men, Our Town) AARON COPLAND

Brooklyn, New York Taught himself piano by watching a friend’s player piano Famous for combining classical and popular music Worked closely with his brother Ira Rhapsody in Blue, Porgy and Bess GEORGE GERSHWIN

Famous for “prepared piano” pieces Created music without a purpose Experimented with music: 4’33’’ One of the first to use electronic music Wanted to make people aware of the natural music around them JOHN CAGE

Famous Composers: Eric Whitacre John Williams Hans Zimmer Alan Menken PRESENT

Nevada Lives with his wife Hila and so Choral, band, and orchestra pieces Know for his shimmering harmonies Virtual choir ERIC WHITACRE

From Film scores Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter JOHN WILLIAMS

from Film score Collaborated with Pharell for Grammys Pirates of the Caribbean HANS ZIMMER

From Disney Little Mermaid, etc. ALAN MENKEN