1. Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Music Style: Romantic Lifetime: 1840-1893 Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky did not begin studying music seriously until the age of 22. Until then, he had only taken a few piano lessons. After graduating from preparatory school, he became a clerk in the Russian Ministry of Justice. While working for the government, he wrote a song, and began considering music as a career. At 22, he left his job and entered the musical conservatory of St. Petersburg, Russia, where he studied composition and orchestration. Upon graduation from the conservatory, he moved to Moscow, Russia, and became an instructor of music theory at the Moscow Conservatory. After Tchaikovsky's marriage failed, a wealthy widow, Nadezhda Filaretovna von Meck, began supporting him financially. Madame von Meck supported Tchaikovsky for 13 years on one condition: that he never attempt to meet her. In 1890, Madame von Meck ended her financial support. Although Tchaikosky no longer needed the money, he was greatly hurt by this; he felt that his greatest supporter had abandoned him. Johann Sebastian Bach Music Style: Baroque Lifetime: 1685-1750 The name J.S. Bach is almost synonymous in modern day with mastery of baroque music composition. He is widely (or universally) recognized as one of three giants of the art form (along with Mozart and Beethoven). Additionally, he was master of the church organ, harpsichord, and an accomplished violinist. Although quite multitalented, musical composition was the driving force of his life. Ironically, maybe tragically, he achieved virtually no success or professional recognition as a composer in his own lifetime. Of the nearly one thousand musical compositions currently listed in the Bach musical catalog (BWV) only a dozen of these were published in his lifetime. Furthermore, some of those were printed at Bach's own expense. There is much debate over the lack of interest in his Bach's music during his life. However, the consensus is that many musicians at time considered his music technically challenging. J. S. Bach began his auspicious career in music at the age of fifteen as an organ mechanic and tuner, moving from town to town. He was quickly regarded as a talented technician, and all through his life continued to service his large collection of musical instruments. Bach resorted to a variety of commercial enterprises to support his large family. With the burden of 20 children to support, Bach seemed quite sufficiently motivated. Indeed, it has been estimated that an experienced music hand writer would need 40 years to copy his life's work. Wolfang Mozart Music Style: Classical Lifetime: 1756-1791 Encouraged by his father, Leopold, Wolfang Mozart began playing the clavier at the age of 3. By age 5 he began composing, and by 10 he had written his first symphony. He could play any music put in front of him on the clavier, organ, or violin. He wrote his first opera at 14. Wolfgang was a child musical prodigy. His father, a violinist, guided Wolfgang's career as a touring concert artist throughout Europe. Throughout his life, Mozart never had any difficulty in getting his music performed or published, and it was very much admired and appreciated by audiences in Vienna and throughout Europe. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a short man with piercing eyes and long hair which he groomed carefully. He was outgoing, always friendly, and enjoyed the company of others. He is considered one of the greatest composers of the eighteenth century. Mozart directing his Requiem on his death-bed (from the painting by Mihaly Munkacsy) Memorial to J. S. Bach in Leipzig, Germany Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Early 1892: Tchaikovsky begins work on the music for the Nutcracker. Upon completion of the score in the summer of 1892 Tchaikovsky wrote that the music he composed was "infinitely poorer than The Sleeping Beauty" (which he had composed and premiered in 1890. Portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a child. Peanuts- Schroeder & Beethoven A nineteenth century depiction of the Bach family at morning music practice. Bach is at the keyboard and the other family members are playing or singing.

2. Ludwig van Beethoven Music Style: Classical/Romantic Lifetime: 1770-1827 Ludwig van Beethoven began taking piano lessons at age four. When Ludwig turned eight, his father decided to make money from his son's talent. He presented Ludwig as a concert pianist and advertised that the eight year old Ludwig was only six years old. Although Ludwig never a child musical prodigy like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, by 14 he was quite a good musician and become he assistant organist at a local church. At 17, he met Mozart, who predicted a great career in music Beethoven. By age 19, he was playing violin in local orchestras and giving music lessons to help support his family. The period 1800-1815 was prolific of Beethoven. By 1815 (age 45) he had completed 8 symphonies, 27 piano sonatas, numerous sonatas for various string instruments, 10 piano trios, 11 string quartets, dozens of orchestral works, and numerous vocal solos and choral works. Composing was difficult for Beethoven. He anguished over every piece. He had begun losing his hearing in his 20s. By his mid-40s he gave up his performing career, devoting as much time as possible to composing. The last 12 years of his life were spent composing while he slowly but steadily lost all of his hearing. He fell in love several times but never married; his poor origins prevented him from marrying the upper-class women he desired. In practical matters such as renting an apartment, organizing performances of his music, or publishing his music, he was disaster. Beethoven was short, stocky, and muscular. He dressed carelessly. He was often restless and moody, and worked at composing every morning with intense concentration. He would fly into a rage at small matters which upset him, yet he was always loyal to his friends and supporters. Frederic Chopin Music Style: Romantic Lifetime: 1810-1849 Called a "musical genius" when he was a teenager, Chopin composed a remarkable variety of brilliant pieces warlike polonaises, elegant waltzes, romantic nocturnes, and poetic ballades and etudes. He began to take piano lessons when he was 6 years old. He started to compose music even before he knew how to write down his ideas. At the age of 8 he performed in a public charity concert. Chopin's first published musical work, a rondo, appeared when he was 15 years old. When Chopin graduated from the lyceum, at 17, he was recognized as the leading pianist of Warsaw and a talented composer. After Chopin gave two successful concerts in Vienna when he was 19, he began writing works designed for his original piano style. An important influence was a romantic friendship with Baroness Dudevant, better known as the novelist George Sand. Chopin died of tuberculosis, at age 39. He wrote few concertos and sonatas. Instead he perfected freer musical forms. Among his compositions are some 50 mazurkas, 25 preludes, 24 etudes, 21 nocturnes, 17 waltzes, 11 polonaises, 4 ballades and 3 sonatas. Five Great Composers Music Styles Baroque, Classical, and Romantic 1685 to 1849 Brief biographies http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/takomapark ms/academics/cs/grade8projects/learnaboutmusic/index.ht ml TCHAIKOVSKY CHOPIN J. S. BACHBEETHOVEN MOZART Ludwig van Beethoven composing at a piano. Painting by Hermann Junker. (Photo: The only known photograph of Chopin taken by Bisson in 1849, the year of Chopin’s death). Chopin (Drawing by Rudolph Lehmann, 1847) Chopin