Classical Composers

Christoph Willibald Gluck

(1714-1787) Germany-Austria. Early Classical Opera period. Orfeo, Alceste.

Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach

(1714-1788) German. Classical composer "sensitive" style. Son of J.S Bach. An Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments.

Johann Stamitz

(1717-1757) Czech. Classical composer, considered the Founding Father of Mannheim School. Transitional styles of Baroque and Classical.

Franz Joseph Haydn

(1732-1809) Austria. Classical composer who spent most of his life as musical director for wealthy Esterhazy brothers; visits to England introduced him to world of public concerts rather than princely patrons; wrote The Creation and The Seasons. 106 symphonies. Father of Symphony.

Luigi Boccherini

(1743-1805) Italy-Spain. Classical composer mainly chamber music. Styles by Haydn

Muzio Clementi

(1752-1832) Italian composer, pianist, conductor etc. Born in Rome, spent most in England. "Father of the Pianoforte". Produced almost 110 piano sonatas.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756-1791) Austria. 6 year old child prodigy. Composed over 600 works; The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni. 41 symphonies.

Ludwig van Beethoven

(1770-1827) Germany. Crucial figure in the transition between Classical and Romantic eras; Symphony 9, Bagatelle. 9 symphonies.

This member of the First Viennese School in the Classical period is generally considered to be the greatest composer of all time.

Beethoven