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Samuel Barber
…middle-class family in West Chester, Pennsylvania. His parents, Marguerite McLeod Beatty and physician Samuel Leroy Barber, nurtured a household that valued education and culture. While Barber’s father was a doctor,…
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Classical Music for Funerals
…been heard at weddings, sporting events, royal occasions, and, of course, funerals. One of 14 musical compositions dedicated to Edward Elgar‘s closest friends and family, Nimrod was composed in honor…
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Johann Pachelbel
…and Education Johann Pachelbel was born in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1653 into a middle-class family. His father, Johann (Hans) Pachelbel, was a wine dealer, and his mother was Anna Maria…
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Jean-Philippe Rameau
…and Education Jean-Philippe Rameau was born into a musical family on September 25, 1683, in Dijon, France. His father, Jean Rameau, was an organist, and his mother, Claudine Demartinécourt, came…
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Variations on a Theme by Mozart – Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
…on Mozart: Musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria on January 27, 1756. His father, Leopold Mozart, was a composer and violinist. Mozart and his sister Nannerl…
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Domenico Scarlatti
Domenico Scarlatti, born in a family of musical virtuosos, carved a distinct niche for himself with his unique compositions and dynamically unconventional style. His 555 keyboard sonatas, that resonate with…
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Camille Saint-Saëns
Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns, a name that resonates with musical prowess and genius, was a musical prodigy whose impact on the Romantic era of music was profound and enduring. Known for his…
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George Gershwin
…Born on September 26, 1898, as Jacob Gershovitz in Brooklyn, New York, George Gershwin was the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants. His musical journey began early when the Gershwin family purchased…
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Franz Schubert
…to these musical geniuses, coupled with his innate talent and passion for music, set the stage for Schubert’s blossoming as a musical prodigy. His musical mentor, Antonio Salieri, a renowned…
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Dmitri Kabalevsky
…during the 20th century, particularly through his compositions and his contributions to music education. Early Life and Education Kabalevsky was born into a family of musicians. His father was a…
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Claude Debussy
…in the small French town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He was the eldest of five children in a working-class family. His father, Manuel-Achille Debussy, worked as a salesman and ran a local…
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Leroy Anderson
…and by the time he was 11, he was studying piano at the New England Conservatory of Music. Anderson’s family lived at 12 Chatham Street in Cambridge, where he spent…
