Composer Gallery

The most significant and prolific composer in jazz history and one of the most famous American composers in any genre. Ellington's music helped define what jazz is and what it could be. His longer compositions are now sometimes performed by classical orchestras.

The greatest French art song composer, and one of the most original musicians of the 19th Century.

Venetian composer and organist, guardian of the grand, opulent, sacred music style favored in Renaissance Venice at the height of its power.

Composer of some of the most beloved concert works of the 20th century, along with dozens of familiar jazz standards.

One of the most versatile living composers, Glass is famous for his film scores and performances with his ensemble. He is also the most performed living opera composer.

Opera composer whose Faust is one of the most popular and tuneful works in the world repertory. He also composed church music and his Ave Maria setting is world famous.

The first Norwegian composer to gain a Europe-wide reputation, famous for his lyrical, shorter pieces.

Born in Germany and trained in Italy, Handel immigrated to London and became the most celebrated composer in English history. Originator of the English oratorio, most notably Messiah.

Known for his innovative syntheses of music from the Pacific Rim and modern classical, Harrison had an explorer’s heart, but also a lyrical gift he used freely.

“Papa” Haydn; the most celebrated composer of his time, developer of the string quartet and a major influence on symphonic composition.

The composer of one of the most popular orchestral works of all time, The Planets.

Innovative composer who mixed popular and church music from his youth with far-reaching experiments in musical techniques. He is one of the most renowned and influential American composers.

The “King of Ragtime,” during its heyday in the 1890s-1910s, Joplin published more than 40 rags, and also composed two operas.

As much a superstar in his time as Michael Jackson was in ours, he revolutionized the art of piano playing. As a composer he remains most famous for his tuneful and brilliant Hungarian Rhapsodies.

Last of the great line of German symphonists. One of the musicians who bridged Romanticism and the early Modernist era at the turn of the 20th century.

“The Mozart of the Nineteenth Century,” according to Robert Schumann. Mendelssohn’s Romanticism was tempered by a love of J.S. Bach and other German classic composers.

"Papa" of opera. His music was an important bridge from Renaissance to Baroque aesthetics.

Mozart was a supreme melodist and is one of the most popular classical composers of all time. “Mozartean” is practically synonymous with elegance and grace.

Aka “the Mozart of the Champs-Elysees,” Offenbach was a composer of brilliant operettas and one repertory opera, The Tales of Hoffmann. His operettas are infused with social commentary.

Late 16th-century, Italian composer of masses, motets, and madrigals. He was extremely prolific and is regarded as one of the greatest composers of the late Renaissance.