COMPOSERS OF

THE CLASSICAL
PERIOD
TODAY’S LESSON 
ORAAAAYT 
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:

•FWRAONLFZGJAONSEGPH LUDWIG VAN

AMHAADYEDUNS BEETHOVEN
MOZART
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:
• One of the most prominent
composers of the classical period &
was named “FATHER OF THE
SYMPHONY”
• His life is described as a “rags-to-
riches” story.
• Hired by rich patrons and eventually
FRANZ JOSEPH became a musical director for the
HAYDN Esterhazy family for 30 years.
1732-1809
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:
• His music reflects his character and
personality; mainly calm, balanced,
serious but with touches of humor.
• Was able to compose over 100
symphonies and developed them
into long forms for a large orchestra
• Most of his symphonies have
FRANZ JOSEPH nicknames such as “Surprise
HAYDN Symphony”, “The Clock” & “The
1732-1809 Military”
Listening Activity:
1. Symphony n o .94 in G Major
n d
2. “SURPRISE 2 MOVEMENT”
Symphony no. 101 in D Major
3. “THE CLOCK”
Symphony no. 100 in G
Major
“THE MILITARY”
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:
• Is a child prodigy and the most amazing genius in
musical history.
• At age 5, he was already playing the violin and the
Harpsichord
• At age 6, he was recognized as an exceptional pianist
• At age 7, he was already composing excellent music
• At age 13, he had written sonatas, concertos,
symphonies, religious works, operas and operettas.
• He experimented with all kinds of music and
WOLFGANG composed over 700 works
AMADEUS MOZART • Unfortunately, due to mismanaged finances, he lived
his life in poverty, died young and was buried in an
1756 - 1791
unknown grave
HE COMPOSED WONDERFUL CONCERTOS &
SYMPHONIES AND OPERAS WHICH BECAME POPULAR
S1U.CHTASh:e marriage
of Figaro,
1786 Other known works:
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
2. Don Giovanni - Symphony no. 40 in G Major
1789 - Sonata no. 11 in A Major
K311
3. The Magic
Flute, 1789
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:
• Born in Bonn, Germany to a family of
musicians and studied music at an
early age.
• Composer who bridged the late
classical era and the early romantic
era.
• His famous compositions include 32
LUDWIG VAN piano sonatas, 21 set of variations, 9
BEETHOVEN symphonies, 5 concertos for piano,
1770 - 1827 16 string quartets and choral music.
GREAT COMPOSERS FROM THIS PERIOD:
• He began to go DEAF in 1796 but
this did not become a hindrance
• He continued composing through
the help of an assistant and a hearing
gadget
• Some of his famous compositions
were made when he was deaf
LUDWIG VAN
BEETHOVEN
1770 - 1827
HIS WORKS INCLUDE THE “MISSA SOLEMNIS”
(1818-1823) AND OPERA FIDELIO (1805)
His known Symphonies are:
1. Symphony no. 3 (Eroica)
2. No. 5 No. 6 (Pastoral)
3. No. 9 (Choral) which adds voice
to the orchestra
Characteristics of Beethoven’s Works:
1. His music veered toward larger orchestras
2. Sound was centered on the violas and
lower registers of the violins and cellos to
give his music a darker mood
3. All themes in a piece are tied together
by one motif
4. He developed musical themes and
motifs extensively by means of