Navigate this page: Beethoven, Carreño, Field Ginastera, Grieg, Handel, Nielsen, Sibelius, Villa-Lobos

For ideas on how to implement Composer Study in your homeschool, go to my page “Art and Music.”

Europe

Denmark: Carl Nielsen

Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) was a Danish composer and musician. His main instrument was the violin and he is famous for his violin concerto and six symphonies.

• Violin Concerto
• Symphony No. 5
• Wind Quintet, Op.43
• Rhapsody Overture: An Imaginary Trip to the Faroe Islands (orchestra)

Finland: Jean Sibelius

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was a Finnish composer who is most famous for his beautiful symphonic poem, “Finlandia.” The tune towards the end of “Finlandia” was composed by Sibelius, and it is well known in English as the hymn, “Be Still, My Soul.”

• Classicsforkids.com third audio of the Grieg section
• Article: Short introduction to Jean Sibelius, Classicsforkids.com
• Finlandia Op. 26 (Opening of the new Helsinki music hall)
• Finlandia Op. 26 (with video of Finnish wildlife by Wild Scandinavia)
• Be Still My Soul, a cappella version by Eclipse 6
• Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 (for violin and orchestra)
• Symphony No. 7 (for orchestra)

Germany: Ludwig van Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer during the Classical period although his later works are sometimes classified as belonging to the Early Romantic period. Famous for composing such beautiful music despite his hearing loss, all of his works are well deserving of the highest praise. You can’t go wrong with what you choose to listen to, so this list is fairly open ended:

• Five audio stories about Beethoven at Classicsforkids.com.
• Kids picture book: “Beethoven lives upstairs,” by Barbara Nichol
• Kids picture book about Symphony No. 3: “Beethoven’s Heroic Symphony,” by Anna Harwell Celenza
• Thick biographical book for adults: “Beethoven: the Man Revealed,” by John Suchet
• YouTube videos:
  • Nine Symphonies, the most famous of which are:
    • No. 3 in E-flat major, “Eroica”
    • No. 5 in C minor
    • No. 6 in F major, “Pastoral”
    • No. 9 in D minor, “Choral”
  • Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor”
  • String Quartet Op. 133
  • Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op 123
  • Piano Sonatas; some of the most famous are below:
    • No. 8 in C Major, Op. 13 “Pathéthique”
    • No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 “Moonlight”
    • No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”
    • No. 23 in F Major, Op. 57 “Appassionata”
    • No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux”

Ireland: John Field

John Field (1782-1837) was an Irish composer known as the inventor of the nocturne. A nocturne is a piece of music reminiscent of the night, and Field’s piano nocturnes inspired the ones composed by Chopin.

• Article: Biography of John Field
• ClassicsforKids.com short introduction to John Field
• YouTube Videos:
  • Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat Major
  • Nocturne No. 5 in B-flat Major
  • Piano Concerto No. 1
  • Nocturne No. 2 in C minor

Norway: Edvard Grieg

Edvard Grieg (1843-1907 ) was a Norwegian composer commonly classified in the “19th century, late romantic, nationalistic music” category. He is famous for his Peer Gynt suite, which is music set to the play, Peer Gynt, by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. His one piano concerto is beloved by pianists and, in general, his music is lovely.

• Kid’s book: “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” adapted by Allison Flannery. YouTube read-aloud:”In the Hall of the Mountain King.”
• ClassicsforKids.com has five audio stories about Grieg that my kids enjoy.
• Grieg’s sheet music is in the public domain for free downloads at IMSLP.org.
• YouTube Videos:
  • Peer Gynt: Morning (video with line drawing)
  • Peer Gynt: In the Hall of the Mountain King (video with sand animation)
  • Peer Gynt: Anitra’s Dance (video with ballet)
  • Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16 (for piano and orchestra)
  • Violin Sonata in C minor, Op 45 (for violin and piano)

United Kingdom: George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel (1685-1789) was a German composer who spent most of his musical career in England. He developed the style of the oratorio, his most famous being the “Messiah.”

• Kid’s book: “Handel, who Knew What He Liked,” by Matthew Tobin Anderson
• ClassicsforKids.com has four audio stories about Handel.
• YouTube Videos:
  • Messiah
  • Music for the Royal Fireworks
  • Water Music Suite No 1 in F Major
  • Water Music Suite No 2 in D Major
  • 12 Concerto Grossi, Op. 6

South America

Argentina: Alberto Ginastera

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983) was an Argentinian composer. His later works border on atonal but I really enjoyed the Danzas Argentinas and bought the sheet music to learn; his works are not in the public domain yet. Here is a list of compositions by Ginastera that you can find on YouTube:

• Danzas Argentinas (for piano)
• Sonata for Guitar, Op 47
• Malambo (orchestra), I love that this is the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra from Venezuela
• Estancia, Op 8 (for orchestra)
• Suite de Danzas Criollas, Op 15 (for piano)

Brazil: Hector Villa-Lobos

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) is a Brazilian composer. He composed using the guitar, which is unusual! Here is a list of compositions by Villa-Lobos that you can find on YouTube (but there are so many options!):

• Article: Short introduction to Heitor Villa-Lobos, Classicsforkids.com
• Suite Popular Brasilena
• Cello Concerto No. 1
• Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra
• Five Preludes (for guitar)
• Choros No. 12 (for orchestra)

Venezuela: Teresa Carreño