-
Period: to
Rameau
French composer and theorist. Tried to establish a rational foundation for harmonic practice. "Treatise on Harmony" the beginning of the ideas of modern music theory -
Period: to
Metastasio
Court poet in Vienna; primary librettist for opera seria in the late Baroque and Classic periods. Incredibly famous as a librettist; set the standard for opera style circa 1750. -
Period: to
Hasse
German composer of Italian opera; from the 1730s to 1760s he was the most admired composer of opera seria in Italy and Germany; he was praised by most -
Period: to
Sammartini
Galant Italian composer and innovator of the symphony in Milan -
Comic Opera
Comic Operas began to appear in Italy. Audiences liked the comedies. -
Period: to
Galuppi
Galant Italian composer, instrumentalist; key in the development of 18th century comic opera -
Period: to
Richter
German composer, teacher, and singer; the innovator of the string quartet; one of the foremost Mannheim composers -
Period: to
Benda
Bohemian violinist, teacher, and composer; Charles Burney greatly praised him; brother of Johann Georg Benda -
Period: to
Bach
German composer; son of J.S. Bach; known as the "Halle Bach" for his work in that town; gifted, but troubled -
Period: to
Frederick the Great
Patronage of Prussian Arts, gifted musician (played flute), composed at least 100 sonatas and 4 symphonies. -
Period: to
Jommelli
Galant Italian composer; important to opera reforms in the middle of the century; considered one of the greatest composers of his day; respected by Mozart -
Period: to
Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, wrote in both Baroque and classic styles; associated with Empfindsamkeit. -
Period: to
Wagenseil
Austrian composer, teacher, and keyboardist; wrote in Baroque and galant styles -
Period: to
Rutini
Italian composer, teacher, and keyboardist; his keyboard works represent a transition from works for harpsichord to works for piano -
Period: to
Burney
Organist, amateur composer, writer, and music scholar. -
Period: to
Piccinni
Italian composer; he was a central figure in Italian and French opera from 1750 to 1800; admired by Burney as one of the four greatest composers in Italy. -
Period: to
The Rococo Style
"Rococo" derives from the French "rocaille" meaning "scroll." Francois Couperin, French composer, wrote in this new charming and entertaining style.Very ornamental: trills, turns, grace notes -
Period: to
Gassmann
Bohemian composer highly regarded by contemporaries; founder of the oldest musical society in Vienna, Tonkunstler-Societat -
Period: to
Haydn
A primary Austrian composer who served as innovator and mover within the new classic style; teacher, keyboardist, and violinist -
Period: to
Gossec
Netherlands composer active in France: contributed to the development of French music -
Period: to
Bach
Used beautiful melodies and bits of chromaticism; he wrote Italian operas, church music, and orchestral works. Used contrasting themes in concertos and sonata-form movements -
Period: to
Schobert
Simulated orchestra effects in harpsichord writing -
Period: to
Paisiello
Very good Italian composer, wrote 94 operas. -
Period: to
Martinez
Austrian composer of Spanish descent; studied with Metastasio, Porpora, and Haydn; singer and keyboard player -
Period: to
Billings
One of our first American composers, a tanner, taught himself to compose music. -
Period: to
Salieri
Italian composer and teacher; he functioned in the transitional periods between the galant and the classic and then again between the classic and the romantic, extremely successful -
Period: to
Mozart (Nannerl)
Mozart's older sister; often described as equal in talent and skill; toured with Mozart during her childhood. When she was twelve, Leopold Mozart said that she was one of the most skillful players in Europe -
Period: to
Martin y Soler
Spanish composer; important opera composer in his day; collaborated with Da Ponte -
Period: to
Viotti
Italian composer and violinist; the most important violinist after Tartini; he is considered the founder of the 19th century French school of violin technique -
Period: to
Mozart
A child prodigy, taken on tours of Europe. Keyboard virtuoso, learned Italian style during his three trips to Italy, studied counterpoint with Martini in Bologna; influenced by music of Sammartini and other Italian symphonists. -
Period: to
Zelter
German composer, teacher, and conductor; most important for his vocal works and influence in Berlin -
Period: to
von Paradis
Excellent pianist and organist. renowned for her remarkable musical memory. Blind. Composed two concertos, a piano trio, songs, cantatas, operas, and other chamber music -
Period: to
Sussmayr
Austrian composer; student of Mozart; helped in the completion of Mozart's Requiem -
Piano
The first patented version of a piano was in London. -
Le nozze di Figaro
(The Marriage of Figaro)
Dramma giocoso in four acts; based on a play that had been banned in France. Da Ponte and Mozart met in Vienna c. 1783; they both were well-known and decided to collaborate.