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Many composers are great at certain forms of music, like piano or symphonic, but if you look at some of the better composers and add up their talent, abilities and accomplishments it becomes pretty clear that empirically the greatest composer, by actually a long shot, is Ludwig van Beethoven.
Musicianship-
Beethoven was by all accounts the greatest piano player of his day. He was also the greatest improviser of his time. This is well documented by many accounts from his contemporaries. He was also not only able to write music without hearing a note, but was able to correct string players by watching their hands on the necks of the instruments!
Accomplishments-
Most music historians will agree that he wrote the greatest masterpieces in virtually every genre except Opera. His Symphonies, String Quartets and Piano Sonatas are the cornerstones of their respective genres, while many feel his Piano Concerto no.5 and his Violin Concerto are the greatest as well. He revolutionized music twice in his career -once with the Third Symphony (as radical then as the Rite of Spring was in the early Twentieth century), and then again with his forward looking Late Period works. His influence was felt over two centuries, to the point that modern composers such as Cage and Stockhausen had to consciously rebel against him!
Besides writing the greatest body of work in human history, Beethoven invented the concept of self-expression through music. Up until that point, music was either used for religious ceremony or for royal entertainment. Composers were considered servants, like cooks, and the idea that a composer would have something to say through his music was totally an alien concept. Beethoven, by sheer force of his personality and genius, forever altered that concept. He elevated the composer from servant to King, and that is where we get the idea of music as a means of self expression today. Furthermore, he invented the concept of Avante-garde music - music that was not meant for contemporary audiences but for the future. Both these concepts can not be understated - if this was his only accomplishment he would have still been considered the revolutionary force he is today.
Add to all this the fact that:
*he was and remains one of the most popular composers of all time
*Wrote the greatest melody in music history (Ode to Joy -using only 5 notes!) and the greatest motif (5th Symphony).
*The first successful free lance composer
*Was, along with Bach, the consummate composer of fugues
Oh yeah, and he was DEAF!
I don't think it can be argued that the crown of "Greatest Composer in History" fits easily on Beethoven's wild hair! No other composer matches up.
C
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoHaving heard William Camilleri's music on his website.I decided to write to him and ask to meet this composer. It was more than I could have ever imagined! Not only did I find out that William is completely self taught and never studied a note of music but also discovered he was an incredible pianist too who composes all his music without any changes and dishes out masterpiece after masterpiece.
But I must say that what struck me most was that William has actually managed to change the course of music as we know it, companies are continually selling music by Bach, Mozart and the composers of past but are ignoring this new type of Classical Music which is the most beautiful, moving, melodic music I have ever heard. Camilleri composes and orchestrates music with ease, this is something I have never seen or heard of in my entire life as a Professor of music that has travelled the globe. Wake up record companies! lets fill the concert halls around the world with this miraculous music. Prof, Mark Stien PhD University of Buffalo
New York, USA.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoHans Zimmer
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ennio Morricone
They are the ones that I remembered firstly...
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoBethoveen
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Beethoven what period era of music were they from?
Between classical and romantic Era. He is well known as a greatest composer during classical and romantic periods. Classical Era (1730-1820) Romantic Era (1815-1910)
Was Haydn a composer of the baroque period?
no, Haydn is a composer of the classical era
Is Joseph hadyn a classical composer?
Yes.
Was Franz Schubert a Classical era composer?
Yes. His early compositions were in the classical style.
Is Kuhlau a classical era composer?
Friedrich Daniel Rudolf Kuhlau (1786-1832) was a German/Danish composer who live during the Classical and Romantic periods.
Beethoven what period era of music were they from?
Between classical and romantic Era. He is well known as a greatest composer during classical and romantic periods. Classical Era (1730-1820) Romantic Era (1815-1910)
Is Mozart a classical singer?
No, Mozart was a classical composer.
What composer was born in Austria and played classical music?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a Classical composer who was born in Austria.
What type of composer was Rossini?
A classical music composer (in the romantic style).
Was Haydn a composer of the baroque period?
no, Haydn is a composer of the classical era
Was Leonard Bernstein a classical composer?
Yes.
Who was the composer to the classical music bolero?
Ravel
What kind of music did Mozart composer?
classical
Is Joseph hadyn a classical composer?
Yes.
Was Franz Schubert a Classical era composer?
Yes. His early compositions were in the classical style.
Is Kuhlau a classical era composer?
Friedrich Daniel Rudolf Kuhlau (1786-1832) was a German/Danish composer who live during the Classical and Romantic periods.
Which composer wrote music that served as the high point of the classical period?
Most music scholars would scoff at such a question. The classical period is far too complex to be distilled into categories of best and worst. In terms of the Classical Period, Mozart and Beethoven are regarded as the best of the best, yet take that with a grain of salt for there is no true best.In terms of the overall Classical music, J.S. Bach is a true unparalelled composer who we have never seen since and will likely never see again. Hats off to Bach. In my mind, he is the greatest composer who ever lived and the pinnacle of Classical music entirely.
