top ten tuesday: composers

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Sheesh, this one took me a while, but it was a labor of love. I hope you’ll take the time to explore some of the composers and compositions mentioned below. And if you find something you love in the process, please come back here and tell me about it. Just call me the Ambassador for Classical (mostly vocal) Music… Enjoy!

10. Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) – A French composer once referred to by a critic as “half bad-boy, half monk” — an apt description which remained with him until his death in 1963. Suggested listening: Litanies à la vierge noire.

9. Clara Wieck Schumann (1819-1896) – Enjoyed a staggering 61-year piano career which began at the tender age of 13. At age 19, married Robert Schumann against her father’s vigorous protestations (the matter was eventually settled in court!) and went on to raise seven children while managing their household, touring as a pianist, promoting her husband’s music, teaching piano and composing her own music. Suggested listening: three lieder (songs) – Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen; Liebst du um Schönheit; Warum willst du and’re Fragen?

8. Robert Schumann (1810-1856) – A pretty tragic figure — began his music career somewhat late after a half-hearted attempt at studying law, was initially prevented from marrying his intended, achieved limited success as a piano instructor and as a conductor, achieved moderate success as a composer mostly due to the efforts of his wife who premiered and promoted much of his piano compositions, experienced extreme pain in his hands which prevented him from performing and eventually paralyzed at least one of his fingers…the list goes on. He spent the last two years of his life in an asylum and died at the age of 46. Fortunately, his music endures. Suggested listening: one lieder (song) Widmung (the perfect music to accompany lovely, romantic text written by Friedrich Rückert; see the German to English translation here).

7. Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) – Italian priest (although he never said a mass), music instructor, performer and composer; holds a place of importance for establishing the standard three-movement concerto scheme (fast-slow-fast). Suggested listening: Gloria (RV 589) and, of course, Le quattro staggioni (aka The Four Seasons).

6. Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) – A French composer and organist who studied and then eventually taught at the Conservatoire de Paris. Also worked with/ advised other composers such as Louis Vierne and Francis Poulenc. Suggested Required listening: Requiem op. 9 — one of my favorite works of all time.

5. Felix Mendelssohn (1809 -1847) – Early-romantic German composer whose music was banned during the Nazi regime because he was Jewish. Sometimes referred to by the name Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (his parents tried to renounce their Jewish faith and changed their names). Fortunately, he remained extremely well-regarded in England. Led a conventional life (married, five children) and had a conservative outlook on life and music which set him apart from his contemporaries; was greatly influenced by the music of Bach. Suggested listening: the oratorio Elijah, a big, bold, impressive work for four vocal soloists, a large chorus and full symphony orchestra; and Hear My Prayer, a much smaller, quieter sacred work for choir, soprano soloist and organ.

4. Franz Schubert (1797-1828 ) – Quite literally, the master of German lieder — although he wrote symphonies, liturgical music, opera, chamber music and solo piano works, he is most well-known for over 600 lieder. Suggested listening: several lieder, of course – Gretchen am Spinnrade (D.118, text by Goethe); Der Tod und das Mädchen (D.521, text by M. Claudius); Einsamkeit (D.620, text by W. Müller; from the song-cycle Die Winterreise)

3. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (?1525-1594) – A prolific Italian composer considered to be a master of the Renaissance; refined polyphonic technique to create a more seamless vocal texture. Suggested listening: Missa Papae Marcelli (mass for six voices).

2. John Rutter (1945- ) – English composer, choral conductor, editor, arranger, producer. Founded his own choir, The Cambridge Singers, which he conducts and with which he has recorded extensively on his own label, Collegium Records. *Absolutely required* listening: Requiem. Along with the Duruflé Requiem, it’s another one of my favorite works of all time — it’s SO beautiful.

1. Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652) – Another Italian composer; late Renaissance period. His most famous composition, by far, is the Miserere mei, Deus, a sacred a capella work written for two choirs, one five-voice, the other four-voice. It has been sung in the Sistine Chapel during Holy Week every year since it was composed sometime in the 1630s — that’s approaching 400 years! If you listen to only one suggested composition from this post, let it be this one — I consider it some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. Seriously. It’s amazing.

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