Classical Composers

The Classical period (ca.1725-1825) witnessed an immense flowering of orchestral and chamber music, as well as developments in opera and in sacred music.

• Francis Hopkinson (born 1737, died 1791)

  American patriot, poet and composer.

  • One of the first American composers
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (born 1756, died 1791)

  Austrian composer and harpsichordist. Greatly influenced the development of the symphony and opera.

  • Composed over 600 works, including The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute
• Karl Philipp Emanuel Bach (born 1714, died 1788)

  German composer. Son of Johann Sebastian Bach.

  • Composer of sonatas and chamber music
• Christoph Willibald Gluck (born 1714, died 1787)

  German composer of symphonies, ballets and operas.

  • Composed Alceste
• Ludwig van Beethoven (born 1770, died 1827)

  German composer who created some of his greatest works after he grew deaf.

  • Composer of nine symphonies and the Moonlight and Kruetzer sonatas
• Johann Christian Bach (born 1735, died 1782)

  German composer. Son of Johann Sebastian Bach.

  • Composed arias, cantatas, clavier concertos and chamber music
• Niccoló Paganini (born 1782, died 1840)

  Italian composer and violinist.

  • Composed Caprices for Violin Solo
• Luigi Boccherini (born 1743, died 1805)

  Italian composer and cellist.

  • The first composer to write music for string quintets
• Vincenzo Bellini (born 1801, died 1835)

  Italian composer.

  • Composed I Puritani
• Antonio Salieri (born 1750, died 1825)

  Austrian composer and teacher.

  • Largely remembered today for his rivalry with Mozart
• Franz Joseph Haydn (born 1732, died 1809)

  Austrian composer of symphonies and piano works. Teacher of Ludwig van Beethoven.

  • Composed The London Symphonies
• Baldassare Galuppi (born 1706, died 1785)

  Italian composer of comic operas.

  • Wrote Filosofo di Campagna
• Etienne-Nicolas Méhul (born 1763, died 1817)

  French opera composer.

  • Wrote Ariodant