Classical Music, SYM-WEE
Rosin up your bows and get to work on those sonatas! Classical music encompasses a wealth of different musical forms, including the symphony, concerto, and fugue, among many others. It can be written for musical instruments (such as an orchestra or a string quartet) or for vocal groups (as in choral music). Most of the best-known composers of classical music worked during the last 600 years in the Western tradition; even people disinclined to seek out classical music may recognize passages from some of these composers' standout works, such as Ludwig van Beethoven's "FĂŒr Elise," Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," and Georges Bizet's "Habañera" (from the opera "Carmen").
Classical Music Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Symphony No. 3
Symphony No. 3, symphony for orchestra and choruses by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler that purports to encapsulate......
Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major
Symphony No. 4 in E-flat Major, symphony by Austrian composer Anton Bruckner that premiered in Vienna on February......
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36, orchestral work by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky that, as the composer......
Symphony No. 4, Op. 29
Symphony No. 4, Op. 29, symphony for orchestra by Danish composer Carl Nielsen in which he set out to capture in......
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550, symphony by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, sometimes known as the Great G Minor Symphony.......
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67, orchestral work by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven, widely recognized by......
Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor
Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, symphony by Gustav Mahler. Premiering on October 18, 1904, in Cologne, the workâs......
Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47
Symphony No. 5 in D Minor, Op. 47, symphony by Dmitry Shostakovich that was his attempt to regain official approval......
Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82
Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 82, symphony for orchestra in three movements by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius,......
Symphony No. 6 in F Major
Symphony No. 6 in F Major, symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. Premiering in Vienna December 22, 1808, on the same......
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92, symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven. Premiering in Vienna on December 8, 1813,......
Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major
Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major, symphony by Gustav Mahler, known as âSymphony of a Thousandâ for the great number......
Symphony No. 9 in C Major
Symphony No. 9 in C Major, symphony and last major orchestral work by Austrian composer Franz Schubert. It premiered......
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125, orchestral work in four movements by Ludwig van Beethoven, remarkable in its......
symphony orchestra
symphony orchestra, large orchestra of winds, strings, and percussion that plays symphonic works. See...
Szell, George
George Szell was a Hungarian-born American conductor, pianist, and composer who built the Cleveland Orchestra into......
Szymanowski, Karol
Karol Szymanowski was the foremost Polish composer of the early 20th century. Szymanowski began to compose and......
Tales of Hoffmann, The
The Tales of Hoffmann, opera by German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach, with a French libretto by Michel......
Tamberlik, Enrico
Enrico Tamberlik was an Italian tenor best known for his remarkable high notes. In 1841 Tamberlik made his official......
Tamburini, Antonio
Antonio Tamburini was an Italian operatic baritone, particularly noted for his starring roles in the works of Gioacchino......
Taneyev, Sergey
Sergey Taneyev was a Russian pianist, theorist, and composer, whose works are known for their finely wrought contrapuntal......
Tansen
Tansen was an Indian musician and poet who was an important figure in the North Indian tradition of Hindustani......
Tartini, Giuseppe
Giuseppe Tartini was an Italian violinist, composer, and theorist who helped establish the modern style of violin......
Tate, Nahum
Nahum Tate was a poet laureate of England and playwright, adapter of otherâs plays, and collaborator with Nicholas......
Tauber, Richard
Richard Tauber was an Austrian-born British tenor celebrated for his work in opera and, especially, operetta. Tauber......
Taymor, Julie
Julie Taymor is an American stage and film director, playwright, and costume designer known for her inventive use......
Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Ilyich
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was the most popular Russian composer of all time. His music has always had great appeal......
Tcherepnin, Nikolay
Nikolay Tcherepnin was a prominent Russian composer of ballets, songs, and piano music in the nationalist style......
Te Kanawa, Kiri
Kiri Te Kanawa is a New Zealand lyric soprano best known for her repertoire of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart......
Tebaldi, Renata
Renata Tebaldi was an Italian operatic soprano, a star at both Milanâs La Scala and New York Cityâs Metropolitan......
Telemann, Georg Philipp
Georg Philipp Telemann was a German composer of the late Baroque period, who wrote both sacred and secular music......
Tempest, Marie
Marie Tempest was an English actress, known as âthe queen of her profession,â who had a 55-year career as a star......
Templeton, Fay
Fay Templeton was an American singer and actress who enjoyed popularity in a career that extended from light opera......
Terfel, Bryn
Bryn Terfel is a Welsh opera singer known for his bass-baritone voice and his performances in operas by Mozart,......
Tetrazzini, Luisa
Luisa Tetrazzini was an Italian coloratura soprano, one of the finest of her time. In Florence, Tetrazzini studied......
Teyte, Dame Maggie
Dame Maggie Teyte was an English soprano, a well-known opera, concert, and recording artist who was considered......
The Barber of Seville
The Barber of Seville, comic opera in two acts by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini (libretto in Italian by Cesare......
The Barber of Seville Turns 200
On February 20, 1816, one of the best-loved and most-performed comic operas of all time, Gioachino Rossiniâs The......
The Comedians, Op. 26
The Comedians, Op. 26, incidental music composed by Dmitry Kabalevsky in 1938 to accompany a stage play called......
Theodorakis, Mikis
Mikis Theodorakis was a Greek composer. He studied at the Athens and Paris conservatories. A member of the wartime......
Thomas, Ambroise
Ambroise Thomas was a French composer best known for his operas, particularly Mignon, written in a light, melodious......
Thomas, Theodore
Theodore Thomas was a German-born American conductor who was largely responsible for the role of symphony orchestras......
Thompson, Randall
Randall Thompson was a composer of great popularity in the United States, notable for his choral music. Thompson......
Thomson, Virgil
Virgil Thomson was an American composer, conductor, and music critic whose forward-looking ideas stimulated new......
Tian Han
Tian Han was a Chinese playwright and poet known for his expressive and powerful one-act plays. Tian wrote librettos......
Tibbett, Lawrence
Lawrence Tibbett was an American baritone renowned for his success in both opera and motion pictures. Tibbett began......
Tichatschek, Joseph
Joseph Tichatschek was a Bohemian operatic tenor praised by composers such as Richard Wagner, Hector Berlioz, and......
Tilson Thomas, Michael
Michael Tilson Thomas was an American conductor and composer of classical music, pianist, and educator who was......
Tippett, Sir Michael
Sir Michael Tippett was one of the leading English composers of the 20th century. Tippett studied composition (1923â28)......
Tirunal, Swati
Swati Tirunal was the maharaja of Travancore and one of the best-known musicians in the South Indian Carnatic music......
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, two-part musical composition for organ, probably written before 1708, by......
Toch, Ernst
Ernst Toch was a composer whose works, noted for their perfection of form, fused elements from the classical tradition......
Tomkins, Thomas
Thomas Tomkins was an English composer and organist, the most important member of a family of musicians that flourished......
Tosca
Tosca, opera in three acts by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini (Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa)......
Toscanini, Arturo
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor, considered one of the great virtuoso conductors of the first half of......
Tower, Joan
Joan Tower is an American composer, pianist, and conductor who is chiefly known for her colorful and often whimsical......
Traetta, Tommaso
Tommaso Traetta was a composer who, with NiccolĂČ Jommelli, was a precursor of Gluck in the 18th-century movement......
Traubel, Helen
Helen Traubel was an American opera singer, remembered as one of the finest Wagnerian sopranos of her day, who......
trio
trio, a musical composition for three instruments or voices, or a group of three performers. The term trio came......
trio sonata
trio sonata, major chamber-music genre in the Baroque era (c. 1600âc. 1750), written in three parts: two top parts......
Tucker, Richard
Richard Tucker was an American operatic tenor and cantor who sang roles in more than 30 operas. As a youth, Tucker......
Turina, JoaquĂn
JoaquĂn Turina was a Spanish composer who helped to promote the national character of 20th-century Spanish music.......
Twelve Variations on Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman, K 265
Twelve Variations on âAh, vous dirai-je, Maman,â K 265, set of variations for solo piano composed by Wolfgang Amadeus......
Upshaw, Dawn
Dawn Upshaw is an American operatic soprano known for her exquisite voice and for her meticulous attention to texts......
Van Zandt, Marie
Marie Van Zandt was an American opera singer who achieved major European success in a career marked by dramatic......
Vaughan Williams, Ralph
Ralph Vaughan Williams was an English composer in the first half of the 20th century, and the founder of the nationalist......
Vecchi, Orazio
Orazio Vecchi was an Italian composer best known for his madrigal-comedy LâAmfiparnaso and other entertainment......
Verdi, Giuseppe
Giuseppe Verdi was a leading Italian composer of opera in the 19th century, noted for operas such as Rigoletto......
verismo
verismo, a style of Italian opera writing that flourished in the last decade of the 19th century. Based on the......
Vestris, Madame
Madame Vestris was a British actress, opera singer, and manager who inaugurated tasteful and beautiful stage decor......
Viardot, Pauline
Pauline Viardot was a French mezzo-soprano, best known for her highly dramatic operatic roles. As a child Viardot......
Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera, theatre in Vienna, Austria, that is one of the worldâs leading opera houses, known especially......
Vieuxtemps, Henry
Henry Vieuxtemps was a Belgian violinist and composer who was one of the most influential figures in the development......
Villa-Lobos, Heitor
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer and one of the foremost Latin American composers of the 20th century,......
Vinci, Leonardo
Leonardo Vinci was an Italian composer who was one of the originators of the Neapolitan style of opera. Among his......
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61, concerto for solo violin and orchestra by Ludwig van Beethoven that is one......
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 77, three-movement concerto for violin and orchestra by Johannes Brahms that showcased......
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64, concerto for violin and orchestra by Felix Mendelssohn, one of the most lyrical......
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26, concerto for violin by German composer Max Bruch. It is admired especially......
Violin Concerto No. 2
Violin Concerto No. 2, concerto in four movements for solo violin, strings, and synthesizer by Philip Glass that......
Violin Sonata in A Major
Violin Sonata in A Major, sonata for violin and piano by Belgian composer CĂ©sar Franck, known for its deftly balanced......
Viotti, Giovanni Battista
Giovanni Battista Viotti was an Italian violinist and composer, and the principal founder of the 19th-century school......
virelai
virelai, one of several formes fixes (âfixed formsâ) in French lyric poetry and song of the 14th and 15th centuries......
Visconti, Luchino
Luchino Visconti was an Italian motion-picture director whose realistic treatment of individuals caught in the......
Vitali, Giovanni Battista
Giovanni Battista Vitali was a principal Italian composer of chamber music for strings in the period before Arcangelo......
Vitry, Philippe de
Philippe de Vitry was a French prelate, music theorist, poet, and composer. Vitry studied at the Sorbonne and was......
Vivaldi, Antonio
Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian composer and violinist who left a decisive mark on the form of the concerto and......
Vives, Amadeo
Amadeo Vives was a Spanish composer noted for his nearly 100 light operas. After study in Barcelona, Vives founded......
vocal-instrumental concerto
vocal-instrumental concerto, musical composition of the early Baroque era (late 16th and early 17th centuries)......
Wagner, Cosima
Cosima Wagner was the wife of the composer Richard Wagner and director of the Bayreuth Festivals from his death......
Wagner, Richard
Richard Wagner was a German dramatic composer and theorist whose operas and music had a revolutionary influence......
Walter, Bruno
Bruno Walter was a German conductor known primarily for his interpretations of the Viennese school. Though out......
Walton, Sir William
Sir William Walton was an English composer especially known for his orchestral music. His early work made him one......
Ward, John
John Ward was a composer of instrumental and choral music known for his madrigals. He published his First Set of......
Warlock, Peter
Peter Warlock was an English composer, critic, and editor known for his songs and for his exemplary editions of......
Warren, Leonard
Leonard Warren was an American operatic baritone known for his work in operas of Ruggero Leoncavallo and Giacomo......
Water Music
Water Music, suite of short pieces for small orchestra by German-born English composer George Frideric Handel,......
Weber, Carl Maria von
Carl Maria von Weber was a German composer and opera director during the transition from Classical to Romantic......
Webern, Anton
Anton Webern was an Austrian composer of the 12-tone Viennese school. He is known especially for his passacaglia......
Weelkes, Thomas
Thomas Weelkes was an English organist and composer, one of the most important composers of madrigals. Nothing......