Top 5 Classical Composers

[PkmnMstr7]

1) Ludwig van Beethoven (Late Classical, early Romantic)
2) Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Romantic)
3) Guillaume DuFay (Renaissance)
4) Eric Whitacre (Modern)
5) Arnold Schoenberg (Modern)

[johnsandy]

Here 5 top Classical Composers!
1. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
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Haydn was a remarkable composer, epitomizing the meaning of classical period composition, and though he wasn't as flashy as the younger Mozart, his music always stayed true to form. Haydn, unlike most composers, had a "reliable and steady" job composing, directing, teaching, performing, and managing musicians from the royal Esterhazy family. During this time, Haydn composed many pieces of music for the courtly orchestra to perform. With a staggering body of work, including over 100 symphonies and 60 string quartets, he is often referred to as the "Father of the Symphony" or "Father of the String Quartet."
2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
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Did you know that nearly half of Mozart's life was spent touring throughout Europe? Born in 1756, Mozart began composing at the age of five. Shortly thereafter, he toured with his father and sister. Tragically, Mozart died at the young age of 35. Yet during his short life span, Mozart greatly advanced classical period music with over 600 compositions. His compositional style is similar to that of Haydn's, only more flamboyant and often criticized for having "too many notes."
3. Antonio Salieri (1750-1825)
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Salieri may have been envious of young Mozart's musical genious, however the rumors of Salieri poisoning Mozart are, in fact, simply rumors. Salieri was a respected Kapellmeister who was most notable for his contributions to opera, but stopped composing operas in 1804 before composing only church music. Salieri was friends with Haydn and gave music composition lessons to Ludwig van Beethoven.
4. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
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Thanks to Christoph Willibald Gluck, opera as we know it today, could be radically different. Gluck revolutionized opera by softening the contrast between recitatives and arias by weaving underlying melodic themes and orchestral passages within the recitatives as they flowed into the arias. He wrote his scores in line with the opera's text similar to how modern composers compose film scores, and also melded French and Italian operatic styles. In the late 1760s, Gluck allowed Salieri to study with him and become his protege.
5. Muzio Clementi (1752-1832)
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As the "Father of the Pianoforte," Clementi was a strong and vocal promoter of the piano. Clementi was a master of many musical trades including a performer, composer, publisher, teacher, arranger, and even instrument maker. He traveled extensively throughout Europe, collecting and publishing music manuscripts including those of Beethoven's and selling pianos. He also taught students that went on to teach great composers like Chopin and Mendelssohn. Clementi's most notable body of work includes his compositions for piano: Gradus ad Parnassum and three piano sonatas.

[Bellini48]

You intend that they belonged to the classical period in a tight sense? Beethoven belonged to the inherent CLASSICAL period also, and you wouldn't call him great? He even started to burst the 'classical' period's seams, anticipating the romantic period. I agree with your exposition, very accurate, but the original thread was intended differently. Most non-experts intend 'classical' music far more generally than we do. And this misunderstanding is taken up by media in general when pubblicizing musical genres. Of course we cannot call MONTEVERDI a classical, as studied musicians. Nor Orlando Di Lasso, or Palestrina. Not to mention the Trobadours and Trouviers of the middle ages. But most would refer to them erroneously as classical or 'cultured' music, as opposed to popular music, that some would call 'uncultured'. Erroneously, I would add. But thank you for your analysis.

[tdmonroe]

These are all 20th Century composers, not classical composers.

[welshbean]

if i had to pick 5 today they would be

Beethoven
Mozart
Vaughan Williams
Rachmaninoff
Bach,

though if asked next week the 5 will be different.

[Onlythelonely]

Bach
Dvorak
Tchaikovski
Vivaldi
Beethoven

[vladimirfreddie]

Here goes with my first post:

Beethoven
Bach
Haydn
Mozart
Vivaldi

Although as others have mentioned this is variable. Some days I wouldn't listen to any of these but they are the tried and true ones I go back too

[whitesand]

I won't be original:

1) Mozart
2) Beethoven
3) Chopin
4) Bach
5) Vivaldi

[Jerome]

I once dated a lady whose daughter is a talented violist. I know nothing about classical music but listening to her practice and absorbing some of the pieces she was playing in preparation for her degree in music started shifting my attention away from rock music and helped me gain an appreciation for this 'new' genre. She was a fan of Dvorak, so I recognize some pieces by him, but outside of that it's still an unexplored terrain. And there is a hell of a lot of it to explore. There are very, very few composers in the world today who come anywhere close to what the classical masters of old have achieved. Same is true of painting, have a look at any Johannes Vermeer painting. We just do not see that sort of quality anymore. And when it comes to architecture, you only have to look around the cities of Europe to realise what we have lost.

[SteveO]

Well stated Jerome ! In reality nothing can touch or come close to the compositions of the classical masters !!!! I would add that the classical voice is the ultimate in singing also !

I once dated a lady whose daughter is a talented violist. I know nothing about classical music but listening to her practice and absorbing some of the pieces she was playing in preparation for her degree in music started shifting my attention away from rock music and helped me gain an appreciation for this 'new' genre. She was a fan of Dvorak, so I recognize some pieces by him, but outside of that it's still an unexplored terrain. And there is a hell of a lot of it to explore. composers in the world today who come anywhere closeThere are very, very few to what the classical masters of old have achieved. Same is true of painting, have a look at any Johannes Vermeer painting. We just do not see that sort of quality anymore. And when it comes to architecture, you only have to look around the cities of Europe to realise what we have lost.