Composers from Each Era

Baroque Era

Antonio Vivaldi: Popular for his work creating a series of pieces called the Four Seasons, Vivaldi actually began his career in a girls' orphanage as a teacher (pictured left)
Arcangelo Corelli: This composer actually taught Vivaldi, and he was quite popular even when he was alive. His works also popularized a certain form of pieces called a Concerto Grosso and influenced future structures of music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Mozart is one of the most famous classical music composers known for being a child prodigy, but not many people know that he was a bit of a procrastinator; one time, he wrote an entire opera the day it was supposed to be performed (pictured right)
Ludwig Van Beethoven: Beethoven is known for continuing to compose and perform even after his hearing deteriorated and after he became permanently deaf. As a child, his father lied about his age to make his music talents seem more prodigal.
Franz Joseph Haydn: This composer mentored Mozart and taught Beethoven. He frequently incorporated interesting elements into his performances to amuse or intrigue his audience, such as in his Farewell Symphony when each instrumentalist blew out a candle before leaving the stage one at a time.

Franz Schubert: He was an incredibly productive man, writing over 1000 pieces in the 31 years he lived.
Edouard Lalo: Lalo was a French composer of Spanish descent. His most famous work is inspired by Spanish work, known as Symphonie Espagnole.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Tchaikovsky is arguably one of the most famous composers from the Romantic era. HIs first job was actually as a clerk, but he soon found that he did not enjoy this job. (pictured left)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Shostakovich was a Russian composer who continued to write music in his own style despite pressure from the Soviet government. He also bears an uncanny resemblance to Harry Potter. (pictured left)
Bela Bartok: Bartok was a Hungarian composer who combined an original modern music style with a folk style frequently in his music.