Anyone who loves music probably knows some of the great composers who made important contributions with their musical scores. Composers fall under different categories, mostly dependent on the eras in which they wrote music, including classical, baroque, and Renaissance. Knowing a little about the composers who helped shape music will give you an important foundation for studying the subject. You might even find a favorite composer whose music you'd like to explore.
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770. Beethoven's piano talents were discovered quickly. His father wanted to make him into a child prodigy, which is a child who works to perform at the same level as an adult would perform. Not only did Beethoven have impressive piano talent, but he also composed music. Much of Beethoven's early works were for the piano. Later in life, Beethoven had hearing problems, but he still kept writing music.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756. His father was a music teacher and composer. Both Wolfgang and his sister performed throughout Europe while they were children. Mozart could play the harpsichord, the piano, the organ, the viola, and the violin. By the time Mozart reached his teens, he was performing and composing musical scores. He continued to write and perform, but he had financial problems during adulthood. Mozart died at age 35; the cause of his death is uncertain.
Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 in Eisenach, Germany. His family was musical, and he was taught to play the violin while he was a child. Bach worked as an organist, and he also wrote famous musical compositions that included concertos and sonatas. Bach had vision problems when he was older, but he continued to write and perform. Most of Bach's compositions were published after he died in 1750.
Johannes Brahms's family was poor, and his father's musical knowledge helped him recognize Johannes's talents. To help support his family when he was a child, Brahms earned money by playing the piano in local dance halls. People would often experience what was called the "Brahms epiphany" when they listened to his music, which listeners described as the music leaping into their hearts. Brahms's music has a tender and gentle feel, which was very different from the rough exterior that Brahms displayed.