Romantic

2 March

March 2nd: Bedřich Smetana

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Czech Republic, Europe 19th Century, Bedřich Smetana, Die Moldau, March, Romantic

Bedřich Smetana 2 March 1824 – 12 May 1884

Die Moldau

Bedřich Smetana
By Bain News Service, publisher – Library of CongressCatalog: https://lccn.loc.gov/2014716851Image download: https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ggbain/36700/36702v.jpgOriginal url: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2014716851/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133935744

Bedřich Smetana was a Czech composer who played a vital role in developing a unique Czech musical style during the 19th-century cultural revival in Bohemia. Often referred to as the “father of Czech music”, he is best known internationally for his comic opera The Bartered Bride and the orchestral cycle Má vlast, particularly the symphonic poem Vltava, which beautifully depicts the river flowing through Prague.

Born in Litomyšl, Smetana displayed remarkable talent as a pianist and composer from a young age. He studied in Prague and participated in the 1848 Prague uprising, writing patriotic music. After personal tragedies, including the loss of his daughters and wife, he moved to Sweden, where he gained recognition. Returning to Prague, he became a key figure in Czech-language opera, with The Bartered Bride becoming a major success. Despite becoming deaf, Smetana continued to create significant works, including the six-part Má vlast. He remains a foundational figure in Czech culture, with his legacy enduring through his music.

29 February

February 29th: Gioachino Antonio Rossini

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Italy 19th Century, Classical, Fantasia for clarinet and piano, February, Gioachino Antonio Rossini, Romantic

Gioachino Antonio Rossini 29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868

Fantasia for clarinet and piano

Gioachino Rossini
By uncredited – Accademia nazionale di Santa Cecila, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95094224

Gioachino Rossini was an Italian composer known for his lively operas. He wrote 39 operas, becoming one of the most successful composers of the late Classical and early Romantic periods. Rossini was especially famous for his comic operas, full of fast music, humour, and memorable melodies.

Born in Pesaro, Italy, to musical parents, he began composing as a child. By his late teens, his operas were performed in major Italian cities. Between 1810 and 1823, he wrote many operas, including The Barber of Seville, La Cenerentola (Cinderella), and L’italiana in Algeri. These works made him famous across Europe. He also composed serious operas and later moved to Paris, where he wrote his final opera, Guillaume Tell. Surprisingly, Rossini stopped writing operas in his thirties, despite his popularity. In later life, he wrote smaller pieces, hosted musical gatherings, and became known for his wit and love of food. He died in 1868 and is remembered as one of opera’s greatest composers, influencing many with his unique style and creativity.

22 February

February 22nd: Alexander Fesca

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Germany 19th Century, Alexander Fesca, February, Klavierseptett, Romantic

Alexander Fesca 22 May 1820 – 22 February 1849

Klavierseptett Op. 26

Alexander Fesca
By Unknown author – Unknown source, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9030690

Alexander Ernst Fesca was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, the second of four sons of composer Friedrich Ernst Fesca and his wife Charlotte. He began his musical education with his father and made his debut as a pianist at the age of 11. By 14, he graduated in composition from the Prussian Academy of Arts in Berlin, studying under notable teachers.

In 1838, he returned to Karlsruhe and achieved success with the operetta “Mariette.” Fesca was known for his songs and piano pieces, which displayed a lightness that some scholars viewed as lacking depth.

In 1841, his opera “The French in Spain” premiered successfully. That same year, he was appointed Chamber Virtuoso by Prince Egon von Furstenberg. He later settled in Brunswick, where his major work, the five-act opera “Il Trovatore,” premiered in 1847. Sadly, Fesca died of lung disease on 22 February 1849, at the young age of 28.

20 February

February 20th: Ruth Gipps

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, England, Europe 20th Century, February, Female Composers, Knight in Armour, Neo-Romantic, Romantic, Ruth Gipps

Ruth Gipps 20 February 1921 – 23 February 1999

Knight in Armour Op. 8

Ruth Gipps
from https://www.malcolmarnoldsociety.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Ruth-Gipps.jpeg

Ruth Dorothy Louisa (“Wid”) Gipps MBE was an influential English composer, oboist, pianist, conductor, and educator. Born in 1921, she created a diverse range of music, including five symphonies and seven concertos. Gipps founded the London Repertoire Orchestra and the Chanticleer Orchestra, significantly impacting music education. She was awarded an MBE in 1981 for her contributions to music. From a young age, Gipps showed exceptional talent, performing publicly at just four years old. She studied at the Royal College of Music and later at Durham University, where she earned a doctorate in music. Gipps faced challenges in her career, including discrimination, which shaped her determination to succeed. She became a prominent figure in conducting, establishing orchestras that showcased new works. Gipps’ music is known for its rich instrumental colour and reflects influences from her teachers, including Vaughan Williams. Despite her achievements, her music was often overlooked in her lifetime. Gipps’ legacy continues to inspire future generations of musicians, particularly women in the arts, highlighting her role in advocating for female composers.

16 February

February 16th: Johann Strauss III

Thomas Pitts Austria, Composer Of The Day, Europe 19th Century, 20th Century, February, Johann Strauss III, Romantic, Unter den Linder

Johann Strauss III 6 February 1866 – 9 January 1939

Unter den Linder (Under the Linden Trees) Walzer, Op. 30

Johann Strauss III
By Carl Pietzner – Sport und Salon, 19.07.1900, p. 9, from digitized collections of Austrian National Library, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25554213

Johann Maria Eduard Strauss III was an Austrian composer born in Vienna. He belonged to a famous musical family; his father was Eduard Strauss, and his uncles were Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss. After the Strauss Orchestra dissolved in 1901, he was informally tasked with continuing his family’s musical legacy. Although he composed music, he is mainly remembered as a conductor. His only operetta, Katze und Maus, premiered in 1898 but received negative reviews. Critics suggested he use a pseudonym to avoid damaging his family’s reputation. Despite this, he created notable waltzes like Sylvanien and Leonie.

In 1903, he made history by being the first in his family to conduct recordings of their music. His later works, including The World Belongs to the Brave and the Coronation Waltz, gained popularity. Strauss’ music reflects the changing tastes of his time, as he navigated a world influenced by other composers like Franz Lehár.

12 February

February 12th: Jan Ladislav Dussek

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Czech Republic, Europe 18th Century, 19th Century, Classical, February, Jan Ladislav Dussek, Piano Concerto in E flat major, Romantic

Jan Ladislav Dussek 12 February 1760 – 20 March 1812

Piano Concerto in E flat major

Jan Ladislav Dussek
By Wilhelm Arndt – http://www.portraitindex.de/documents/obj/oai:baa.onb.at:9238512, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5155536

Jan Ladislav Dussek was a Czech composer and pianist known for his innovative keyboard music that foreshadowed the Romantic style. He became one of Europe’s first touring piano stars, performing from London to St Petersburg, gaining fame before Beethoven. Dussek was notable for his stage presence, often turning the piano side-on so audiences could see him, a practice that became standard.

Born in Čáslav into a musical family, he trained as a pianist, organist, and singer. After studying in Bohemia, he travelled across the Netherlands and Germany, and spent time in Russia as a favourite of Catherine the Great. He settled in London from 1789 to 1799, where he was a fashionable performer and teacher, collaborating with piano maker John Broadwood to develop larger instruments. After London, Dussek worked for Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, composing significant works like the F-sharp minor Elégie harmonique. In his final years, he returned to Paris, premiered new instruments, and continued composing until his death in 1812.

Lucio_San_Pedro_2013_stamp_of_the_Philippines_(cropped)

11 February

February 11th: Lucio San Pedro

Thomas Pitts Asia, Composer Of The Day, Philippines 20th Century, February, Lucio San Pedro, Nationalism, Romantic, Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

Lucio San Pedro 11 February 1913 – 31 March 2002

Sa Ugoy ng Duyan

Lucio San Pedro
By Philippine Postal Corporation – [1], Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121363137

Lucio Diestro San Pedro, Sr. was a Filipino composer and teacher, born on February 11, 1913. He became a National Artist of the Philippines for Music in 1991. San Pedro is celebrated for his contributions to Filipino regional band music and his famous compositions, including the lullaby “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan” and the symphonic poem “Lahing Kayumanggi.”

He began his musical career early, succeeding his grandfather as a church organist. He composed songs, hymns, and masses before studying with renowned musicians. San Pedro taught at several prestigious universities, including the University of the Philippines, where he became a full professor. He was married to Gertrudes Diaz San Pedro and had five children. San Pedro passed away on March 31, 2002, at the age of 89. His works encompass various musical forms, including band music and concertos. He advocated for “creative nationalism,” emphasising the essence of Filipino identity in his compositions. His legacy continues to inspire musicians and enrich Filipino culture, reflecting the nation’s struggles and aspirations.

9 February

February 9th: Ferdinando Carulli

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Italy 18th Century, 19th Century, Classical, February, Ferdinando Carulli, Ouverture, Romantic

Ferdinando Carulli 9 February 1770 – 17 February 1841

Ouverture From The Method

Ferdinando Carulli
By After Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson – This file comes from Gallica Digital Library and is available under the digital ID btv1b8416211p, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1185012

Ferdinando Maria Meinrado Francesco Pascale Rosario Carulli was an Italian composer born in Naples. He is best known for his influential work, Méthode complète pour guitare ou lyre, op. 27, published in 1810. This method is still used by guitar students today. Carulli composed over 400 works for classical guitar, including solos, chamber music, and concertos. He began his musical journey learning the cello from a local priest before discovering the guitar at age twenty. His performances in Naples gained popularity, leading to tours across Europe.

Carulli married Marie-Josephine Boyer around 1801 and later moved to Paris, the music capital of the world. There, he became a successful guitar teacher and self-publisher. He collaborated with luthier René Lacôte to invent the Decacorde, a 10-string guitar. Carulli died on 17 February 1841, leaving a lasting legacy in classical guitar music. His compositions continue to inspire musicians and are celebrated for their creativity and technical skill, making him a significant figure in music history.

3 February

February 3rd: Felix Mendelssohn

Thomas Pitts Composer Of The Day, Europe, Germany 19th Century, February, Felix Mendelssohn, Romantic, Scottish Symphony, Symphony No. 3 in A minor

Felix Mendelssohn 3 February 1809 – 4 November 1847

Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, MWV N 18, known as the Scottish III. Adagio

Felix Mendelssohn
By Eduard Magnus – Berlin State Library, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5854375

Felix Mendelssohn was a German composer, pianist, organist, and conductor of the early Romantic period. He is best known for works that combine lyrical brilliance with Classical clarity. His famous pieces include the overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the Italian and Scottish Symphonies, and the Violin Concerto in E minor. Born in Hamburg, he grew up in a cultured household. His grandfather was the Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. Felix was a child prodigy, but his parents were careful not to exploit his talent. His sister Fanny was also gifted, with some of her works published under his name.

Mendelssohn’s education included serious musical training and studies in languages and literature. A defining moment came in 1829 when he conducted a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, reviving Bach’s music. He became a key figure in Leipzig’s musical life, founding the Leipzig Conservatory in 1843. Mendelssohn’s later years were marked by overwork and declining health, and he died in Leipzig in 1847, aged 38.

Franz_Schubert_by_Wilhelm_August_Rieder_1875

31 January

January 31st: Franz Schubert

Thomas Pitts Austria, Composer Of The Day, Europe 19th Century, Classical, Franz Schubert, January, Romantic, Schwanengesang

Franz Schubert 31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828

Schwanengesang, D. 957 Arr. Camille Thomas for Cello and Piano - Ständchen

Franz Schubert
By Wilhelm August Rieder – https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/en/object/125504-franz-schubert-komponist/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=797711

Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer who bridged the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite dying at just 31, he was extraordinarily prolific, leaving over 1,500 works. He is especially celebrated for his Lieder (art songs), numbering more than 600, which transformed the genre through deep emotional expression and vivid word-painting. Famous examples include Erlkönig, Gretchen am Spinnrade, and the song cycles Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise. Born in Vienna to a schoolteacher’s family, Schubert showed remarkable musical talent from childhood. He studied at the Stadtkonvikt, where he encountered the music of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, later training privately with Antonio Salieri. Much of his career was supported by friends rather than institutions, and public recognition was limited. His only major public concert of his music took place in 1828, shortly before his death. Beyond songs, Schubert wrote symphonies, chamber music, and operas. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest composers in Western music, admired for his lyrical genius and astonishing creative output in such a short life.