Some Great Composers And Musicians And Some Of Their Chief Works

( Originally Published 1920 )

NOTE.-This is not, of course, a complete list of famous Composers and Musicians, nor is it a complete list of their works. It is intended to serve as an introduction to the vast field and to furnish a series of fingerposts to those who would acquaint themselves with the lives and works of the great masters.

ARDITI, LUIGI. 1822-1903. Italy. Some Chief Works: I Briganti ; La Spia ; II Bacio. Autobiography, 1896.

AUBER, DANIEL FRANCOIS ESPRIT. 1782-1871. France. Some Chief Works: Masaniello ; Fra Diavolo ; Le Domino Noir; Les Diamants de la Couronne. Biographical sketches in Engel's "From Mozart to Mario," 1886; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

BACH, JOHANN SEBASTIAN. 1685-1750. Germany. Some Chief Works: Grand Mass in B Minor ; St. Matthaus' Passion ; My Heart Ever Faithful. Biographies by Pirro, 1902 ; Poole, 1890 ; Spitta, 1884 ; Williams, 1900 ; Ziemssen, 1905.

BARNBY, JOSEPH. 1838-96. England. Chief Works: Rebekah ; King All Glorious ; Original Tunes to Popular Hymns. Biographical sketch in Engel's "From Handel to Halle," 1890.

BEETHOVEN, LUDWIG VAN. 1770-1827. Germany. Some Chief Works: Fifth Symphony in C Minor ; Symphony No. 9 ; Opera "Fidelio." Biographies by Beethoven (Letters) ; Crowest, 1899 ; Fischer, 1905 ; Nohl, 1876 ; Rau, 1880 ; Rudall, 1903; Schindler, 1841. Studies by Elterlein, 1893 ; Grove, 1896; Teetgen, 1879.

BELLINI, VINCENZO. 1802-35. Italy. Some Chief Works: "La Sonnambula" opera ; Novina. Biography in "Masters in Music," 1905, and sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. i, 1891.

BERLIOZ, LOUIS HECTOR. 1803-69. Germany. Some Chief Works: Damnation of Faust ; Episode in the Life of an Artist. Autobiography and Letters of Berlioz ; biographical sketches in Hadow's "Studies in Modern Music," 1893 ; Newman's "Musical Studies," 1904; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. 1891.

BRAHMS, JOHANNES. 1833-97. Germany. Some Chief Works: Symphony C Milnor; German Requiem. Biographies by Dieters, 1888; Dietrich, 1899; Erb, 1905 ; and in "Masters in Music," 1905.

CHERUBINI, MARIA LUIGI CARLO ZENOBI SALVADOR. 1760-1842. Italy. Some Chief Works: Sacred Music ; Requiem ; Der Wassertrager. Biographies by Bellasis, 1874 ; Crowest, 1890.

CHOPIN, FREDERIC FRANCOIS. 1810-49. Poland. Some Chief Works: Piano Concerto in F Minor; Etudes, Nocturnes, and Ballads; Spring Song. Biographies by Hadden, 1903; Huneker, 1900 ; Karasowski, 1879; Liszt, 189-; Niecks, 1888.

COWEN, FREDERIC HYMEN. 1852- . England. Chief Work: Orchestral Works. Biographical sketch in Willeby's "Masters of English Music," 1893.

DONIZETTI, GAETANO. 1797-1848. Italy. Some Chief Works: Favorita; Lucia di Lammermoor. Biography in "Masters in Music," 1905; sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. i, 1891.

DVORAK, ANTON. 1841-1904. Bohemia. Some Chief Works: Requiem; New World Symphony ; Stabat Mater. Biographical sketches in Hadow's "Studies in Modern Music," 1894 ; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

ELGAR, EDWARD WILLIAM. 1857- England. Some Chief Works: Dream of Gerontius; Sea Pictures. Biography by Buckley, 1905.

FRANCK, CESAR AUGUSTE. 1822-90. France. Some Chief Works: The Beatitudes ; D Minor Symphony. Biography in "Masters in Music," 1905.

FRANZ, ROBERT. 1815-92. Germany. Chief Work: Dedication. Biographical sketches in Hueffer's "Richard Wagner," 1874 ; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. 1, 1891.

GLUCK, CHRISTOPH WILLIBALD VON. 1714-87. Germany. Some Chief Works: Orpheus et Eurydice ; Orfeo. Biography by Newman, 1895, and in "Masters in Music," 1905.

GOTTSCHALK, LOUIS MOREAU. 1829-69. America. Chief Work: The Last Hope. "Notes of a Pianist," by Gottschalk, and biography by Seymour, 1870.

GOUNOD, CHARLES FRANCOIS. 1818-92. France. Some Chief Works: Faust; Redemption ; Stabat Mater. "Autobiographical Reminiscences," and biographies by Bovet, 1891; Tolhurst, 1904, and in Bellaigue's "Portraits and Silhouettes of Musicians," 1897, and Hervey's "Masters of French Music," 1894.

GRIEG, EDWARD HAGERUP. 1843- Norway. Same Chief Works: Piano Concerto in A Minor ; I Love Thee ; Peer Gynt. Biography by Finck, 1906, and in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

HANDEL, GEORG FRIEDRICH. 1685-1759. Germany. Some Chief Works: The Messiah ; Israel in Egypt ; Leave Me to Languish. Biographies by Marshall, 1890, Rockstro, 1883 ; Schoelcher, 1857 ; Williams, 1901.

HAYDN, FRANZ JOSEPH. 1732-1809. Austria. Some Chief Works: Creation ; My Mother Bids Me Bind My Hair ; The Four Seasons. Biographies by Beyle, 1820 ; Hadden, 1902 ; Hadow, 1897 ; Nohl, 1889 ; Townsend, 1884.

LISZT, FRANZ. 1811-88. Hungary. Some Chief Works: Rhapzodies Hongroises; Legend of St. Elizabeth ; The Lorelei. Letters of Liszt, Correspondence with Wagner, and biographies by Beaufort, 1887; Nohl, -1889 ; Romania, 1882 ; Wohl, 1887.

LOEWE, JOHANN KARL GOTTFRIED. 1796-1869. Germany. Some Chief Works: The Clock ; Archibald Douglas. Biography by Bach, 1891, and sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

MACDOWELL, EDWARD ALEXANDER. 1861- . America. Some Chief Works: Hamlet ; The Sea ; Sonata Keltic. Biography by Gilman, 1906, and sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

MACKENZIE, SIR ALEXANDER CAMPBELL. 1847- England. Chief Works: The Rose of Sharon; The Lord of Life; The Troubadour. Biographical sketches in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii. 1891; Willeby's "Masters of English Music," 1893.

MASCAGNI, PIETRO. 1863- Italy. Chief Work: Cavalleria Rusticana. Biographical sketches in Gilman's "Phases of Modern Music," 1904 ; Streatfeild's "Masters of Italian Music," 1895.

MASSENET JULES EMILE FREDERIC. 1842- France. Some Chief Works: Herodiade; Manon. Biographical sketches in Hervey's "Masters of French Music," 1894, and Paine's Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, JACOB LUDWIG FELIX. 1809-47. Germany. Some Chief Works: Elijah ; Midsummer Night's Dream; Songs without Words. Letters of Mendelssohn, and biographies by Blackburn, 1904; Devrient, 1869 ; Hiller, 1874 ; Lampadius, 1887 ; Polko, 1869; Rockstro, 1890 ; Stratton, 1901.

MEYERBEER, GIACOMO. 17911864. Germany. Chief Work: The Huguenots. Biographical sketches in "Masters in Music," 1904; Apthorp's "Musicians and Music Lovers," 1894; Engel's "From Mozart to Mario,' vol. 1, 1886; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. i, 1891.

MOSCHELES, IGNAZ. 1794-1870. Germany. Chief Work: G Minor Concerto. Diaries and correspondence, and sketches in Ferris's "Great Violinists and Pianists," 1894.

MOSZKOWSKI, MORITZ. 1854- . His compositions for the piano are all so brilliant that a selection is not possible. Biographical sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

MOZART, JOHANN CHRYSOSTOM WOLFGANG AMADEUS. 1756-91. Austria. Some Chief Works: The Magic Flute ; Requiem Mass ; Don Giovanni. Letters of Mozart, and biographies by Breakspeare, 1902; Gehring, 1890; Holmes, 1845; Jahn, 1856-59; Nohl, 1893; Rau, 1868.

PALESTRINA, GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA. 1514-94. Some Chief Works: Papae Marcella ; Improperia ; Marcello. Biographical sketches in Bellaigues's "Portraits and Silhouettes of Musicians," 1897; Ferris's "Great Italian and French Composers," 1896 ; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. i, 1891.

PARRY, CHARLES HUBERT HASTINGS. 1848- England. Biographical sketches in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891; Willeby's "Masters in English Music," 1893.

PURCELL, HENRY. 1658-95. England. Some Chief Works: King Arthur; Te Deum ; Dido and Aeneas. Biography by Cummings, 1881, and sketch in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

ROSSINI, GIOACCHINO ANTONIO. 1792-1868. Some Chief Works: William Tell ; Barber of Seville. Biographies by Bevan, 1904 ; Beyle, 1824 ; Edwards, 1869, 1888.

SAINT-SAENS, CHARLES CAMILLE. 1835- France. Some Chief Works: Deluge ; Le Dance Macabre ; The Bell. Biographical sketches in Hervey's "Masters of French Music," 1894 ; "Masters in Music," 1905.

SCHUBERT, FRANZ PETER. 1797-1828. Austria. Some Chief Works: Symphony in C Major ; Der Erl-Konig ; The Wanderer. Biographies by Duncan, 1905; Frost, 1888 ; Kreissle von Hellborn, 1869.

SCHUMANN, ROBERT ALEXANDER. 1810-56. Germany. Some Chief Works: Symphony No. 1 in B Flat Major ; D Minor Symphony ; Warum?-The Two Grenadiers. Biographies by Maitland, 1884; Oldmeadow, 1905; Patterson, 1903 ; Reissman, 1886 ; Wasielewski, 1871, and in "Masters in Music," 1905.

SMART, HENRY THOMAS. 1813-79. England. Some Chief Works: The Gnome of Hartzburg ; The Bride of Dunkerron ; Ave Maria ; Rise, Lady, Rise. Biography by Spark, 1881.

SPOHR, LUDWIG. 1784-1859. Germany. Some Chief Works: The Last Judgment ; Power of Sound. Autobiography, 1878; biographical sketches in Crowest's "Great Tone Poets," 1885; Ferris's "Great Violinists and Pianists," 1894 ; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. i, 1891.

STANFORD, CHARLES VILLIERS. 1852- England. Some Chief Works: The Three Holy Children ; Eden ; The Veiled Prophet ; Savonarola. Biographical sketches in Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891; Willeby's "Masters of English Music," 1902.

STRAUSS, RICHARD. 1864- . Germany. Some Chief Work.: Don Juan ; Death and Transfiguration; All Souls' Day. Biographical sketches in Gilman's "Phases of Modern Music," 1904; Newman's "Musical Studies," 1905; Paine's "Famous Composers," Vol. ii, 1891.

SULLIVAN, SIR ARTHUR SEYMOUR. 1842-1900. England. Some Chief Works: Pinafore, Patience, The Mikado, The Lost Chord. Biographies by Lawrence, 1900 ; Wells, 1901 ; Wyndham, 1903.

THOMAS, CHARLES LOUIS AMBROISE. 1811- . France. Chief Work: Mignon. Biographical sketches in Hervey's "Masters of French Music," 1894; Paine's "Famous Composers," vol. ii, 1891.

THOMAS, THEODORE. 1835-1905. America. Autobiography, 1905.

TSCHAIKOWSKY, PETER ILYITCH. 1840-93. Russia. Chief Work: Symphony "Pathetique" ; Song without Words. Biographies by Newmarch, 1900; Tschaikowsky, 1906.

VERDI, GIUSEPPE FORTUNIS FRANCESCO. 1813-1901. Italy. Some Chief Works: Aida ; Othello ; Trovatore. Biographies by Crowest, 1897 ; Macchetta, 1887 ; Pougin, 1887; Visetti, 1905.

WAGNER, WILHELM RICHARD. 1813-83. Germany. Some Chief Works: Meister-singer ; Lohengrin ; Tristan und Isolde ; Tannhauser. Biographies by Chamberlain, 1897 ; Finck, 1893 ; Glasenapp, 1900-6 ; Henderson, 1902; Hueffer, 1890; Nohl, 1892; "Letters of Wagner" ; studies by Dannreuther, 1873; Kobbe, 1890; Krehbiel, 1891 ; Lavignac, 1898; Newman, 1899.