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Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Jean-Philippe Rameau was a French composer and music theorist who tried to establish a rational foundation for harmonic practice. Much of what is taught in music theory today is traced back to what he taught. Some of his pieces include "Les Indes galantes" and "Platée". -
Pietro Metastasio (1698-1782)
Pietro Metastasio was an Italian poet and librettist for opera in the late Baroque and early Classical periods. He is believed to have set the standard for all opera in the Classical Era. -
Giovanni Battista Sammartini (1700-1775)
Giovanni Battista Sammartini was an Italian composer, violinist, organist, and teacher who is often credited for creating Symphony. some of his works include "Cello Sonata in G major: I. Allegro non troppo" and "L'Agrippina moglie di Tiberio" -
Formation of The United Kingdom (1707)
England, Scotland, and Wales all join to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Britain would continue to be one of the most powerful and influential countries in all of Europe -
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788)
C.P.E Bach was a German composer and son of the famous Johann Sebastian Bach. He was famous for his work that he did for Frederick The Great which included his fugue improvisatory skill. -
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787)
Christoph Willibald Gluck was a German composer who was known for his Italian and French Operas in the early classical period. He is also know for bringing operatic reform to the Italian opera. Some og his pieces include "Orfeo ed Euridice" and "Alceste" -
Pasquale Anfossi (1727-1797)
Pasquale Anfossi was an Italian opera composer who primarily worked in Rome, Venice, and London. He was a primary influence for Mozart. Some of is pieces include "Il curioso indiscreto" and "La finta giardiniera" -
Invention of The Clarinet (1730s)
The Clarinet is invented by Johann Christoph Denner around the 1730s in Nuremberg, Germany. It would go on to become one of the most widely used and popular instruments during this era. -
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The Rococo Style (1730s-1760s)
The Rococo Style is known for its ornateness and is usually over the top with presentation and decoration. To play one of these pieces one has to have a lot of emotion -
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Franz Joseph Haydn was one of the most influential composers during the Classical Era who greatly developed chamber music through the string quartet and piano trio. He is also credited with the creation of the symphony and was often called "the father of symphony" or "the father of string quartet". Some of his most famous pieces include "Symphony No. 94", "Haydn: The Creation", and "Trumpet Concerto" -
Johann Schobert (1735-1767)
Johann Schobert was a Prussian and Harpsichordist who replicated an orchestral sound using only a harpsicord. Not much is actually known of his life or even where and when he was born. However it is believed that he died by eating poisonous mushrooms he thought were edible. -
Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782)
J.C Bach was the youngest son of the famous J.S. Bach and an influential composer during the Classical Era. He was primarily known for his melodies with a bit of chromaticism and often wrote Italian operas, church music, and orchestral works. Some of his pieces include "Amadis de Gaule" and "La clemenza di Scipione". -
Invention of Symphony (1740s)
The Symphony was invented by Giovanni Battista in the mid 18th century. It quickly became one of the most popular new styles of the classical era. -
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Reign of Frederick the Great (1740-1786)
Frederick the Great was the king of Prussia who had a very harsh childhood where he was almost executed by his father. When he came to the throne he used his power to support the arts. his reign is when most famous classical pieces were written. -
Giovanni Paisiello (1740-1816)
Giovanni Paisiello was an Italian composer and is often seen as the most popular opera composer of the late 1700s. He wrote 94 operas in total which all influenced other composer such as Mozart. -
William Billings (1746-1800)
William Billings was one of the first famous American composers and taught himself how to read and write music. He eventually became a leading member of the First New England School. -
Antonio Salieri (1750-1785)
Antonio Salieri was an Italian composer who was one of the most successful court composers in Vienna, He primarily composed operas in German, Italian, and French. Some of his pieces include "Tarare", and "Europa riconosciuta". -
Maria Anna Mozart (1751-1829)
Maria Anna Mozart was the older sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and at times considered the better musician of the two. Instead of pursuing a musical career Maria instead decided to settle down and raise a family. However W.A Mozart would send many of his pieces to her for her to critique. -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was arguably the most famous composer from the classical era and arguably one of the most famous composers in history. He was already extremely talented by the time he was young and despite his young life he wrote almost 800 pieces. Some of those pieces include "Requiem", "The Magic Flute", "Symphony No. 40" -
Maria Theresa von Paradis (1759-1824
Maria Theresa von Paradis was one of the most famous female composers from the late Classical Era, a feat made more impressive as she was blind from an early age. It is believed that Mozart may have written one of his Piano Concertos in her honor. -
Anton Weidinger (1766-1852)
Anton Weidinger was a famous trumpeter who created his own version of the trumpet which had keys similar to woodwind instruments however it did not catch on and the valve trumpet was invented months later. -
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The American Revolution (1776-1783)
The British colony of North America officially rebels and breaks away from Great Britain . Through the years The United States would become one of the most influential and powerful countries in the entire world. -
Invention of the Piano (1777)
Although many believe that the piano was originally invented as far back as 1700, the primary version of the piano we know today wasn't patented until 1777. After its invention, almost every composer switched from harpsicord to piano and it quickly became one of the most important instruments in the Classical Era. -
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The French Revolution (1789-1799)
The French Revolution a period of extreme political change in France as many started to rebel against the monarchy. France would go on to struggle with many regimes and weak governments which eventually saw the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
