When most people hear the term "classical composer," they immediately picture a bust of Beethoven—scowling, wild-haired, and very much deceased. But as contemporary artist Marti Epstein notes, being a classical composer today isn't about a specific historical style; it’s a description of how music is conceived. It’s about the solitary act of imagining a world of sound and notating it for others to bring to life.
The foundation of the classical world often rests on the "Big Three": Johann Sebastian Bach , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , and Ludwig van Beethoven . classical composer
Behind the marble busts were real people with bizarre lives . Take Cécile Chaminade , who was so obsessed with her flute professor that she wrote a concerto mimicking wedding bells to represent her daydreams of marrying him. Or the murderous prince Gesualdo da Venosa , whose haunting polyphonic vocal music was reportedly written as a way to expiate the guilt of killing his wife. I Am A Classical Composer - Marti Epstein When most people hear the term "classical composer,"
The Ghost in the Machine: What It Really Means to Be a Classical Composer Today The foundation of the classical world often rests
The bridge to the Romantic era, Beethoven’s music was so personal and "naked" that even Albert Einstein remarked it made him feel "uncomfortable".
In this post, we’ll explore the enduring legacy of the "greats," the strange habits that fueled their genius, and why the "classical" label is expanding to include voices you might not expect. The "Big Three" and the Weight of Legend