Monthly Composer Playlists

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) was a prolific and influential composer. He was a child prodigy who began proficiently performed on violin and keyboard and began composing all by the age of 5. He composed more than 800 works including piano concertos, string quartets, symphonies, operas, and sacred music. Click on the Spotify Playlist below to listen to some of his greatest works.

Antonin Dvořák, Czech composer (1841–1904), wrote the New World Symphony in 1893 while he was the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America from 1892 to 1895. Notably he spent a summer in Spillville, Iowa, where he drew inspiration from nature, composing String Quartet No. 12 in F Major and the String Quintet No. 3 in E flat major. Click on the Spotify Playlist below to hear the New World Symphony (No. 9), as well as a few other well known works by Dvořák.

George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios and organ concerti. Handel's Water Music was commissioned by King George I as entertainment for for a royal cruise on the River Thames. Handel’s 'Water Music' is a series of lively orchestral movements, many of which are based upon dances such as the minuet, bourrée, hornpipe, sarabande, gigue and rigaudon.

Italian composer and violinist Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) is celebrated as one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. One of his most famous work, "The Four Seasons," consists of violin concertos each representing one season of the year.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was a German composer and pianist, and is also considered one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music. At the age of 26 Beethoven began to lose his hearing and was completely deaf by the age of 45, but continued to write music his entire life. He wrote 722 works over his life span. Enjoy the Spotify Playlist of some of Beethoven's greatest works.

Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) was a French composer, organist and conductor who wrote works including Carnival of the Animals written as a humorous piece written for friends and family. Carnival of the Animals did not become well known until 30 years after his death. Listen to the Spotify Playlist below to hear the 14 movements of this whimsical chamber music work.

Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) wrote some of the most popular concert and theatrical music in the Classical repertoire, including the ballets Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, and the orchestral work 1812 Overture. Interestingly he began writing music at the very young age of 4 and began piano lessons at age 5. Click on the Spotify Playlist below to enjoy listening to The Nutcracker.

Maurice Ravel (1875–1937) French composer, pianist and conductor.  Mother Goose is a suite five-movement featuring Sleeping Beauty, Tom Thumb, and Beauty and the Beast. Austrian composer Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) was instrumental in the development of chamber music. He was called "Papa" by his close friends, who loved his generous nature and humor. Enjoy listening to the Spotify Playlist of Ravel's "Mother Goose Suite" and Haydn's "Surprise Symphony."

​

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is considered one of the greatest composers of all time including the orchestral Brandenburg Concertos; solo instrumental works such as the cello suites and sonatas for solo violin; keyboard, organ and choral works. Bach was the father to 20 children, with several becoming well known musicians and composers. Enjoy listening to the Spotify Playlist featuring some of his most well- known works.