COMPOSER OF THE MONTH
Johann Sebastian Bach:
Unparalleled Musical Genius
Johann Sebastian Bach, born on March 31, 1685, in Eisenach, Germany, is undoubtedly one of the greatest composers and musicians of all time. Revered as the quintessential Baroque composer, Bach's contributions to music are immeasurable, and his influence resonates to this day.
Bach hailed from a musical family, with several of his relatives also actively involved in music. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was a town musician, instilling a love for music in his children from an early age. Widely recognized as a prodigy, Bach possessed an extraordinary aptitude for music, mastering the violin and organ at a remarkably young age.
Throughout his lifetime, Bach held various prestigious musical positions, leaving an indelible mark on the musical landscape of his time. He served as a court musician, organist, and choir director in various cities, including Weimar, Cöthen, and Leipzig. It was during this period that Bach composed a significant portion of his remarkable body of work.
Bach's exceptional talent lies in his ability to seamlessly blend technical brilliance and profound musical expression. His compositions encompass a wide range of musical forms, from intricate counterpoint and masterful fugues to tenderly expressive chorales and magnificent orchestral works. His unprecedented musical innovations, extensive use of polyphony, and intricate harmonies continue to astonish musicians and audiences alike.
Among Bach's most celebrated works are the Brandenburg Concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Goldberg Variations, and the Mass in B minor. Each composition showcases Bach's unrivaled ability to transcend musical boundaries, incorporating elements of various styles and genres while maintaining his unique artistic voice and unparalleled craftsmanship.
Although widely recognized and revered today, Bach's genius was not fully appreciated during his lifetime. His music was considered old-fashioned and fell into relative obscurity for several decades after his death in 1750. It was through the tireless efforts of later composers, such as Felix Mendelssohn and Robert Schumann, who championed his music, that Bach's remarkable legacy was truly recognized.
Johann Sebastian Bach's profound musical contributions have earned him a place among the pantheon of great composers. His unparalleled mastery of composition, technical brilliance, and emotional depth have left an indelible mark on the history of music. Bach's music continues to inspire and captivate musicians and audiences alike, serving as a testament to his enduring legacy as one of the greatest musical geniuses to have ever graced our world.
10 Interesting Facts About J.S. Bach
1. Musical Prodigy: Bach was a musical prodigy from a young age. He came from a long line of musicians and was the youngest child in his family, but his talent stood out from an early age.
2. Over 1,000 Compositions: Bach was an incredibly prolific composer. It is estimated that he composed over 1,000 works in his lifetime, including orchestral pieces, chamber music, choral works, and keyboard music.
3. Multilingual Skills: Bach was not only immersed in the world of music but was also an accomplished linguist. He was fluent in several languages, including German, Latin, French, and Italian. This proficiency allowed him to explore a wide range of literature and incorporate themes from different cultures into his music.
4. Famous for Being a "Job Hopper": Throughout his career, Bach held various positions as an organist and composer, often moving from one city to another in pursuit of better opportunities. He worked in Arnstadt, Muhlhausen, Weimar, Cöthen, and finally, Leipzig, where he spent the last 27 years of his life.
5. Avid Coffee Enthusiast: Bach was known for his love of coffee. It is said that he wrote a humorous composition titled "Coffee Cantata," which praises the virtues and benefits of this popular beverage. This piece showcases his wit and sense of humor outside the realm of classical music.
6. Innovative Use of Music Theory: Bach was truly a master of music theory. He was among the first composers to develop a comprehensive system of harmony and counterpoint that forms the foundation of Western classical music even today. His innovative approach to composition made him one of the most influential musical figures of all time.
7. Large Musical Family: Bach had a large and talented family. Besides being a renowned composer himself, Bach's sons and relatives were also accomplished musicians. This musical legacy continued for several generations and significantly contributed to the development of classical music during the 18th and 19th centuries.
8. Challenging and Expressive Music: Bach's compositions are known for their technical difficulty and expressiveness. He pushed the boundaries of what was possible on various instruments, particularly the organ and harpsichord. His music requires both technical prowess and emotional interpretation, showcasing his mastery of the art form.
9. Rediscovery and Influence: Bach was largely forgotten after his death until the early 19th century when his music gained renewed appreciation and recognition. Composers like Felix Mendelssohn played a crucial role in the rediscovery of Bach's works, which helped solidify his place as one of the greatest composers in history.
10. Mathematics and Symbolism in Music: Bach's compositions often incorporate intricate mathematical patterns and hidden symbolism. He used numerical codes, such as musical notes corresponding to letters or numerical values, creating puzzles and messages within his music. This layer of complexity adds another fascinating dimension to his already intricate and beautiful compositions.
Johann Sebastian Bach's life and music continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. These surprising facts help shed light on the intriguing personality and genius behind the compositions that have withstood the test of time.
Robert Schumann
Robert Schumann, born on June 8, 1810, in Zwickau, Germany, was a renowned composer and influential figure in the Romantic era of classical music. Schumann's immense contributions to the piano repertoire and his innovative compositions made him one of the most celebrated composers of his time.
Schumann's love for music was evident from a young age. He began his musical journey by studying piano and music theory, showcasing exceptional talent and rapid progress. Though initially trained to become a lawyer, his passion for music led him to abandon his legal pursuits to pursue a career in composition and performance.
In 1829, Schumann enrolled at the Leipzig Conservatory, where he studied piano under Friedrich Wieck, an esteemed pianist and renowned music teacher. However, an unfortunate hand injury forced him to re-evaluate his dreams of becoming a concert pianist. Determined to continue his musical journey, Schumann focused on composition and music criticism, actively exploring different styles and genres.
During the 1830s, Schumann developed a friendship with fellow composer Felix Mendelssohn and collaborated with esteemed musicians such as Clara Wieck, whom he later married. Schumann's marriage to Clara, a gifted pianist, was a significant turning point in his life and career. They had a profound influence on each other, inspiring and challenging one another creatively.
As a composer, Schumann's work was diverse and groundbreaking. He composed symphonies, chamber music, choral works, and lieder, but it was his piano compositions that earned him the most recognition. His music often embraced emotions, expressing a wide range of moods, from delicate and introspective to passionate and exuberant.
Schumann's important works include "Carnaval," "Kinderszenen," "Papillons," and his renowned piano cycle, "Davidsbündlertänze." These compositions demonstrate his distinctive style, characterized by lyrical melodies, intricate harmonies, and imaginative structures.
However, Schumann's life was not without struggles. He battled mental health issues, with bouts of depression and anxiety affecting him throughout his career. Despite the challenges, his struggles added a depth and intensity to his music, showcasing his ability to translate raw emotions into his compositions.
Tragically, Schumann's mental health deteriorated further in the 1840s, leading to his voluntary commitment to an asylum in 1854. He spent the last two years of his life there, succumbing to pneumonia on July 29, 1856, at the age of 46.
Robert Schumann's legacy continues to resonate in the world of classical music. His innovative compositions and dedication to his art have inspired generations of musicians. Today, his works are revered for their emotional depth and technical brilliance, firmly establishing him as one of the most influential composers of the Romantic era.
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Composer and pianist Ludwig Van Beethoven, widely considered the greatest composer of all time, was born on or about December 16, 1770 in the city of Bonn in the Electorate of Cologne, a principality of the Holy Roman Empire. Although his exact date of birth is uncertain, Beethoven was baptized on December 17, 1770.
Beethoven himself mistakenly believed that he was born two years later, in 1772, and he stubbornly insisted on the incorrect date even when presented with official papers that proved beyond any reasonable doubt that 1770 was his true birth year.
Sometime between the births of his two younger brothers, Beethoven's father began teaching him music with an extraordinary rigor and brutality that affected him for the rest of his life. Neighbors provided accounts of the small boy weeping while he played the clavier, standing atop a footstool to reach the keys, his father beating him for each hesitation or mistake.
On a near daily basis, Beethoven was flogged, locked in the cellar and deprived of sleep for extra hours of practice. He studied the violin and clavier with his father as well as taking additional lessons from organists around town. Whether in spite of or because of his father's draconian methods, Beethoven was a prodigiously talented musician from his earliest days and displayed flashes of the creative imagination that would eventually reach farther than any composer's before or since.
Hoping that his young son would be recognized as a musical prodigy à la Mozart, Beethoven's father arranged his first public recital at age seven. Beethoven played impressively but his recital received no press whatsoever. About this performance, a classmate said, "Not a sign was to be discovered of that spark of genius which glowed so brilliantly in him afterwards."
Beethoven, who struggled with math and spelling his entire life, was at best an average student, and some biographers have hypothesized that he may have had mild dyslexia. As he put it himself, "Music comes to me more readily than words." In 1781, at the age of 10, Beethoven withdrew from school to study music full time with Christian Gottlob Neefe, the newly appointed Court Organist. Neefe introduced Beethoven to Bach, and at the age of twelve Beethoven published his first composition.
By 1784, his alcoholism worsening and his voice decaying, Beethoven's father was no longer able to support his family, and Ludwig van Beethoven formally requested an official appointment as Assistant Court Organist. Despite his youth, his request was accepted, and Beethoven was put on the court payroll with a modest annual salary.
In an effort to facilitate his musical development, the court decided to send Beethoven to Vienna, Europe’s capital of culture and music, where he hoped to study with Mozart. There is only speculation and inconclusive evidence that Beethoven ever met with Mozart, let alone studied with him. Tradition has it that, upon hearing Beethoven, Mozart was to have said, "Keep your eyes on him; some day he will give the world something to talk about.” In any case, after only a few weeks in Vienna, Beethoven learned that his mother had fallen ill and he returned home to Bonn. Remaining in there, Beethoven continued to carve out his reputation as the city's most promising young court musician.
As the new century progressed, Beethoven composed piece after piece that marked him as a masterful composer reaching his musical maturity. In 1804, only weeks after Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor, Beethoven debuted his Symphony No. 3 in Napoleon's honor. Later renamed the "Eroica Symphony" because Beethoven grew disillusioned with Napoleon, it was his grandest and most original work to date -- so unlike anything heard before that through weeks of rehearsal, the musicians could not figure out how to play it. A prominent reviewer proclaimed Eroica, "one of the most original, most sublime, and most profound products that the entire genre of music has ever exhibited."
At the same time as he was composing these great and immortal works, Beethoven was struggling to come to terms with a shocking and terrible fact, one that he tried desperately to conceal. He was going deaf. By the turn of the century, Beethoven struggled to make out the words spoken to him in conversation.
Beethoven revealed in a heart-wrenching 1801 letter to his friend Franz Wegeler, "I must confess that I lead a miserable life. For almost two years I have ceased to attend any social functions, just because I find it impossible to say to people: I am deaf. If I had any other profession, I might be able to cope with my infirmity; but in my profession it is a terrible handicap." At times driven to extremes of melancholy by his affliction, Beethoven described his despair in a long and poignant note that he concealed his entire life.
Dated October 6, 1802 and referred to as "The Heiligenstadt Testament," it reads in part, "O you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you and I would have ended my life -- it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me."
Almost miraculously, despite his rapidly progressing deafness, Beethoven continued to compose at a furious pace. From 1803-1812, what is known as his "middle" or "heroic" period, he composed an opera, six symphonies, four solo concerti, five string quartets, six string sonatas, seven piano sonatas, five sets of piano variations, four overtures, four trios, two sextets and 72 songs. The most famous among these were symphonies No. 3-8, the "Moonlight Sonata," the "Kreutzer" violin sonata and Fidelio, his only opera. In terms of the astonishing output of superlatively complex, original and beautiful music, this period in Beethoven's life is unrivaled by any of any other composer in history.
Despite his extraordinary output of beautiful music, Beethoven was lonely and frequently miserable throughout his adult life. Short-tempered, absent-minded, greedy and suspicious to the point of paranoia, Beethoven feuded with his brothers, his publishers, his housekeepers, his pupils and his patrons. In one illustrative incident, Beethoven attempted to break a chair over the head of Prince Lichnowsky, one of his closest friends and most loyal patrons. Another time he stood in the doorway of Prince Lobkowitz's palace shouting for all to hear, "Lobkowitz is a donkey!"
For a variety of reasons that included his crippling shyness and unfortunate physical appearance, Beethoven never married or had children. He was, however, desperately in love with a married woman named Antonie Brentano. Over the course of two days in July of 1812, Beethoven wrote her a long and beautiful love letter that he never sent. Addressed "to you, my Immortal Beloved," the letter said in part, "My heart is full of so many things to say to you -- ah -- there are moments when I feel that speech amounts to nothing at all ."
Somehow, despite his tumultuous personal life, physical infirmity and complete deafness, Beethoven composed his greatest music -- perhaps the greatest music ever composed -- near the end of his life. His greatest late works include Missa Solemnis, a mass that debuted in 1824 and is considered among his finest achievements, and String Quartet No. 14, which contains seven linked movements played without a break.
Beethoven's Ninth and final symphony, completed in 1824, remains the illustrious composer's most towering achievement. The symphony's famous choral finale, with four vocal soloists and a chorus singing the words of Friedrich Schiller's poem "Ode to Joy," is perhaps the most famous piece of music in history.
Summing up his life and imminent death during his last days, Beethoven, who was never as eloquent with words as he was with music, borrowed a tag line that concluded many Latin plays at the time. "Plaudite, amici, comoedia finita est," he said. "Applaud friends, the comedy is over."
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
HOW TO SAY THE NAME: ‘Rachmaninoff’ is said like Rack-man-ni-noff.’Sergei’ is said like ‘Sir-gay’.
BORN: 1st April 1873 in Semyonovo (near Novgorod), Russia.
Rachmaninoff’s grave in New York
DIED: 28th March 1943 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.
BURIED: Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York (he wanted to be buried at his estate, Villa Senar, in Switzerland, but World War Two was happening which made that impossible).
TYPE OF MUSIC: Romantic classical music.
SOME FAMOUS PIECES:
Prelude in C sharp minor, Op. 3, No. 2 (for piano). (See below for a video of Rachmaninoff himself playing this.)
18th Variation from the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (for piano and orchestra).
Vocalise (Op. 34, No. 14, a song without words)
SOME GREAT PIECES:
Piano Concertos Nos. 2 and 3. (See below for a video of No. 2.)
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3.
Symphonic Dances.
Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (for choir).
All Night Vigil (or Vespers)—for choir.
The Bells (a symphony for choir and orchestra).
Lots of pieces for the piano (especially his Preludes, Variations on a Theme of Chopin, and Variations on a Theme of Corelli).
Many songs (including the Vocalise).
SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
He was one of the best piano players who ever lived!
Much of his best music was written for the piano. This music can be very, very difficult to play.
His music is very romantic, even when most other composers at the time were composing modernclassical music. In fact, Rachmaninoff was one of the last well-known romantic composers.
He became so unhappy when people didn’t like his first Symphony that he wasn’t able to compose anything for three years!
Much of his music has very beautiful tunes!
A lot of his music has the sound of Russian bells.
His ‘Liturgy of St John Chrysostom’ and ‘All Night Vigil’ were written for the Russian Orthodox Church. They sound very different to music written for Western churches (but they sounded too Western for the Russians!).
He had to leave Russia during the Russian Revolution (1917). He crossed the border into Finland on a sledge, taking with him only a very few things.
He didn’t compose much once he had left Russia.
He spent most of the rest of his life in America. He earned his living there by playing the piano and conducting.
Everywhere he went, people wanted him to play his famous Prelude in C-sharp minor.