The piano has been loved by people since time immemorial and has produced gems in the form of musicians. Several people decided to throw themselves into becoming the world’s most renowned pianists. The mark left by some of these pianists is significant and holds a special place in people’s hearts.
A number of these composers have written classical hits that remain at the top of people’s favorites list. The versatile nature of the piano has also produced famous pianists from very different genres as well. A number of pianists are known for their versatility as well. For example, there may have been a number of pianists from a certain era, but what actually made them stand out was their dedication.
Some of the composers rose to success because of their unshakeable will power and their zeal to create something unique. Furthermore, most of them had to face a lot of hardship throughout their life. There are a few old era composers whose fan base still exceeds the fan following of present-day composers. So, here is a list of the world popular composers who’ve amazed everyone by creating history in the field.
Ludwig van Beethoven
He is one of the most renowned pianists and composers of the seventeenth century. He gained popularity after his exceptional performance in the court of Prince Lichnowsky. He was 21 at the time and his piece became a huge success. He then became a member of Opus, a piano trio in the king’s court. In the year 1813, his seventh symphony came out, and is now known as one of his most admired works. Even his fifth symphony is a known and loved classic admired by people all over the world.
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Do you know most of his notable works were composed during a time when he was slowly losing his ability to hear? Beethoven’s personal life was quite troublesome, so he found peace in music. He came from a family that had a musical background; his grandfather, Kapellmeister Ludwig van Beethoven, was one of the most favored musicians in the town at the time. He was often punished by his father, who demanded long practice hours from him and his brothers.
Later in his life, he struggled with deafness, describing it as a terrible handicap in his profession. He never got married or had kids. In spite of all these struggles, Beethoven is one of the most regarded musical geniuses of all time. He is widely known for his compositions Fidelio – The Prisoners Chorus, Missa Solemnis – Sanctus, Symphony 9 Movement Three, and many more.
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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He is well known as a renowned musical genius, and also one of the greatest composers and pianists of all time. He was born in Austria on January 27th, 1756. He belonged to a respected and straightforward family. His mother was a well-known violin teacher and his father, Leopold Mozart, was an occasional composer who wrote a few pieces, including a Trumpet Concerto and the Toy Symphony. He was their only surviving son, along with a little sister, Satine Scarlett. He showed qualities of musical excellence in his early childhood. At the age of six, he could play various musical instruments, including piano. By the age of 13, Mozart was fluent in the musical language of his time. Even in his short life, Mozart made unforgettable music.
Mozart’s most famous compositions include the Clarinet Concerto in A Major that featured in films like The King’s Speech, 27 Dresses and Out of Africa. Mozart died at the age of 35. 1791 was the year when Requiem Mass was composed, but it was left unfinished till the time of his death.
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He was a famous Polish piano composer known for his solo piano pieces and his piano concerts. He was appreciated for his originality by critics and fans. He learned to play the piano before the age of six with his mother. Furthermore, even before the age of twenty, he performed for the Tsar of Russia and was given a diamond ring at the end of his performance.
However, Chopin was not fond of making public appearances; he did less than thirty big hall concerts in his lifetime. Chopin spent the latter part of his life in France; he constantly suffered from health-related issues. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis and met the end of his life at the age of 39.
Although he lived in France, he always remained Polish at heart. His last wish on his death bed was that his heart should be taken from his dead body and sent back to Poland.
Chopin’s work includes: 61 mazurkas, 16 polonaises, 26 preludes, 27 études, 21 nocturnes, 20 waltzes, three sonatas, four ballades, and many other solo pieces. He is remembered for having created music that was pure, classic, and heart-touching.
Robert Schumann
He is a well-known German piano composure and music critic of the romantic era. His father was into book publishing, and he died while Robert was still young. His mother desired him to become a lawyer, so he had to join a law school under the pressure of his family. Nevertheless, even in law school, he focused more on music than on his studies.
Encouraged by his piano teacher, Friedrich Wieck, he left the study of law. He started working on his dream of becoming a renowned pianist, but due to a fatal figure injury, it became impossible for him to be a concert pianist. So, he started as a composer and went on to create music that was admired all across Europe.
Schumann composed work to help young people learn piano on the advice of his wife. Schumann had a few very creative years, during which he made music for piano. 1840 is known as the Schumann year of songs. Some of his works include Davidsbündlertänze, Phantasiestücke, Kinderszenen Kreisleriana, and Arabeske. In 1842, he wrote several chamber works, the finest being the Piano Quintet in E-flat Major.
Clara Schumann
She is one of the most famous female piano composers of the romantic era. She started playing the piano by the age of four. Her musical talent was much ahead of those of her generation. In October of 1828, she made her first public debut when she was only 8 years old. She met another well-known composer of that time, her father’s student, Robert Schumann. He was nine years elder to her and later became her husband. Clara Schumann, during her lifetime, was an internationally renowned concert pianist. She was also a part-time piano teacher in Frankfurt.
She greatly focused on the techniques of piano playing and was known to be very close to her students. She composed the famous Piano Trio op. 17, a piece with a traditional four-movement structure filled with romantic emotion. She also wrote Lieder, like the ‘Der Mond Kommt still Gegangen’. Although she does not have many compositions to her name after the age of 36, she is still referred to as one of the most gifted female pianists of all time.
