Classical Composers for Dummies:
Music History for the Musically Challenged

By Maggie Hogan

Supply  list:

Your library

Timeline

Map

Index cards for See, Say, Stack

 
Four Main Periods:

Baroque – mid 1600’s to mid 1700’s

Classical – mid 1700’s to early 1800’s

Romantic – 1800’s to early 1900’s

20th century – well, 20th century

Baroque Period:

Vivaldi 1678-1741
Listen to:

• Gloria
  
• Concerto for Two Cellos in G minor
  

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750
Listen to:

• Brandenburg Concertos
  
• Magnificat
  
• Unaccompanied Cello Suites
  

George Frideric Handel 1685-1759
Listen to:

• Messiah
  
• Water Music
  

Classical Period:

Joseph Haydn (HIE-din) 1732-1809
Listen to:

• Surprise Symphony (no. 94)
  

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (MOAT-sart) 1756-1791
Listen to:

• Requiem
  
• Violin Concerto no. 5 in A major
  
• Piano Sonata in G major
  
• The Magic Flute
  

Beethoven (BAY-toe-ven) 1770-1827
Listen to:

• Any of his symphonies, particularly no. 5
  
• Piano Concerto no. 4 in G major
  
• Piano Sonata no. 14 in C-sharp minor
  

Franz Schubert (SHOE-bert) 1797-1828
Listen to:

• Symphony No. 8 – his unfinished symphony
  
• Symphonies no. 4, 5 and 9
  

Romantic Era:

Mendelssohn 1809-1847
Listen to:

• Elijah
  
• Piano Concerto no. 1 in G minor
  
• Octet for Strings in E-flat major – written when he was 16.
  

Chopin 1810-1849 (sho-PAN)
Listen to:

• Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor
  
• 24 Preludes