Composer Corner
Do you share a birthday with a famous composer?
May 2nd— Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725): Italian composer from the Baroque era, and a key figure of the “Neapolitan school”— a musical movement that sets the stage for what would become “modern” opera. Scarlatti is most famous for his many operas, which are still well loved and widely performed today.
May 3rd-- Mr. Alan and Ms. Chandra
May 4th – Mr. Mike
May 7th— Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): a birthday shared by two very famous composers in Classical music! Brahms, a German composer of the Romantic Era was seen by many as the successor to Bach and Beethoven. His significant contribution to Classical music places him as one of the most revered composers of all time. Brahms composed for symphony orchestra, chamber music, solo and voice. His genius in composition influenced generation of future musicians across the globe.
Tchaikovsky, born just 7 years after Brahms, helped revolutionize music in his home country, Russia. Tchaikovsky became a member of “The Russian Five”— a group of composers that propelled Russian music onto a world stage. Their music was seen as “exotic” by Western composers, with its melodies and motifs borrowed from folk songs. Tchaikovsky remains one of the most beloved composers of Classical music, with frequently performed works such us Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, 1812 Overture, and many more.
May 10th— Milton Babbitt (1916-2011): American composer and teacher of Serial and Electronic music. His early career in mathematics prepared him for the study of Serialism and Twelve-Tone Music and his career as a music theorist. (Twelve-tone music is structured and organized mathematical way of composition popularized by the Second Viennese School of music.) As a faculty member at the Juilliard School of music he influenced generations of future musicians and composers.
May 12th— Gabriel Faure (1845-1924): French composer of Romantic era. A student of the famed Camille Saint-Saens, Faure’s music enjoyed worldwide success and he became one of the most prominent French composers of his time. Some of his most admired works include Pavane, Clare de lune, and Apres un reve (for cello and piano) as well as orchestral and choral works.
May 15th— Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643): a key figure in the transitional period of music history between Renaissance and Baroque, Monteverdi practiced new compositional techniques outlined in “Seconda Practica.” He composed in sacred and secular styles and his compositions experienced a revival in the 20th century.
**Mr. Huy**
May 17th— Erik Satie (1866-1925): most famous for his piano works including Gymnopedies and Gnossiennes, Satie became and influential figure in French musical society including Les Six (a group of French/Swiss composers). His unique compositions and style led to collaboration with his contemporaries including Diaghilev and Picasso.
May 22nd— Richard Wagner (1813-1883): pioneer of the idea of Gesamtkunstwerk (German for “total work of art”), Wagner is most famous for his large-scale opera works for which he wrote both the libretto and the lyrics. His operas sought to encompass the different forms of art (visual, musical, theatrical, and poetic) all into one cohesive work. Wagner’s operas remain some of the most popular and widely performed today.
May 26th— Miles Davis (1926-1991): American born composer, trumpeter and band leader. Davis is one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, his career was long and prolific and included collaborations with of the greatest names in jazz circles. His albums have sold millions of copies in the US and worldwide.
