Carol and Friends
Each month we will feature a different composer, focusing on the music, the times, the economics, the significance, and the legacy. Rich in time lines, images, and performances, this series will give you plenty of material to engage your elementary and secondary school students with a meaningful introduction to music history and appreciation.
(free preview for each composer)
Be sure to tune in for next month’s composer of the month.
The music of George Gershwin melds classical and popular styles with the use of jazz idioms. The music has been aptly described as the embodiment of musical Americana. Go to the Gershwin page.
Domenico Scarlatti, the son of Italian composer Alessandro Scarlatti, holds a special place in the development of keyboard music. He studied the prevailing techniques of composition for instrumental ensembles and Italian opera, but in mid-career he moved to Portugal. There, influenced by musical styles of the Iberian Peninsula and his duties as a keyboard instructor, he produced hundreds of short keyboard sonatas that are prized for their charm, elegance, and originality. Go to the Scarlatti page.
Although Mendelssohn worked in the Romantic era, he was essentially a Classicist who drew his inspiration from composers like Mozart and Haydn and from earlier works of Bach and Handel. At the age of 20, Mendelssohn conducted first performance of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion since Bach’s death 70 years earlier. That performance is credited with sparking a Bach revival. Go to the Mendelssohn page.
Sir Edward Elgar represents the peak of British music in the late Romantic era. His landmark works Enigma Variations and The Dream of Gerontius earn him a position among the great composers of that fruitful era. His Pomp and Circumstance march exemplifies British culture and processional grandeur. Go to the Elgar page.
Few composers in history can be viewed as leading figures in two eras! Monteverdi established his career as a master of Renaissance vocal style and then moved into the new style that marked the beginning of the Baroque era. Thus, Monteverdi has been appraised rightfully as one of the most powerful figures in Western music history. Go to the Monteverdi page.
We can view much of Dvorak’s musical career through the lens of nationalism, particularly as he chose to remain in his homeland and cultivate Czech literature, tradition, and legends in his music while achieving international fame. Go to the Dvořák page.
Robert Schumann represents the spirit of the Romantic Era as well as any composer we could feature. He immersed himself in the newest literature of his era and produced music of great lyricism and passion inspired by literature. He followed the aesthetic and philosophical trends of his day and was an important innovator in musical form, especially in his songs and works for piano. Go to the Schumann page.
Musicians often refer to Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms as the “three Bs.” Bach and Beethoven have clearly earned their reputation as composers of great genius, but what places Brahms alongside them in the Pantheon of composers? Go to the Brahms page.
The Age of Romanticism, which began primarily in literature, replaced the more orderly artistic expressions of 18th-century Classicism. Schubert ushered in the era with masterworks in many genres, but especially songs (Lieder). Composers of songs found a steady supply of material from the marvelous (and quite popular) Romantic poets of the time (Goethe, Schiller, Heine, Müller, Rückert). Schubert wrote more than 600 songs. Go to the Schubert page.
Certain composers may be honored for their technical mastery, their innovations, or their influence on history. Rachmaninov achieved prominence in all three, making his mark as a composer, pianist, and conductor. But he earns this early spot in our series because he is beloved by so many people unto today. Go to the Rachmaninov page.
Beethoven celebrates his 250 birthday this month, so we think it’s appropriate to celebrate it with him. And, in a series about famous composers, you need to consider perhaps the most famous composer early on.
So here is our rather extensive page on Beethoven, his life, his music, and his legacy. Go to the Beethoven page.