After the origin of his own surname, a person is usually interested in the surnames of different prominent figures– politicians, scientists, cultural figures, etc. On this page I propose to familiarize yourself with the etymologies of the names of a number of famous German and Austrian composers.

Let me explain one term that appears in almost every article about surnames. This - Middle High German(German) mittelhochdeutsch, abbreviated mhd.). This is how they designate a period in history. German language– from approximately 1050 to 1350 Formation German surnames During this period, it was already actively happening, therefore, for the basis of surnames, they give the form of the word that it had in that period. This is like the starting point in the history of the surname. As a rule, the phonetic form of surnames has changed quite a lot since that time, in accordance with the patterns of development of the sound structure of the German language. Sometimes identified lexical sources of surname stems in modern language no longer meet. Thus, surnames serve as a kind of “museum” for their storage. Since in the Middle High German period there was no linguistic unity (the main form of existence of the language was numerous dialects), you can also find, for example, a term like Middle Low German, indicating that we're talking about about the Low German area (mainly northern Germany). The Middle High German period was preceded by Old High German (abbr. OT, German ahd.). Onomasts usually appeal to this period when etymologizing personal names.

Johann Sebastian Bach / German Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) – German composer and organist, representative of the Baroque era. One of the greatest composers in the history of music. Most famous musician from the Bach family, known for their musicality.

German onomasts offer two versions of the origin of this surname. From German Bach translated as ‘stream’. Accordingly, this surname could come from a nickname indicating the place of residence - near the stream. Next from the common noun Bach There were many names of settlements. It is not difficult to guess that they all arose on the banks of some stream. Therefore the surname Bach may also indicate people from settlement Bach. This surname was given if a person moved to a new place. After all, in Bach itself there is no point in giving anyone a last name Bach, since it will not be able to perform the function of distinguishing people normally.

In Germany and Austria there are quite a few namesakes of the great composer. As of December 31, 2002, there were 8876 Bachs in German telephone directories. In terms of the entire population of the country, it ranks 239th in the frequency list of surnames. At the same time, modern Thuringia, where is located hometown Baja Eisenach, in terms of the proportion of bearers of this surname, occupies only 9th place. In first place is the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In Austria, there are fewer Bachs - 205 (as of December 31, 2005) and in terms of the entire population it ranks 2199th.

Ludwig van Beethoven / German Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) was a great German composer, conductor and pianist.

His ancestors were peasants and artisans from Flemish Mechelen (now in the Netherlands), from where they moved to Westphalian Bonn. Pretext van– Low Frankish dialect variant of the preposition von'from'. The composer's biographers believe that the surname comes from the toponym Betuwe- the name of a locality in the modern province of Gelderland in the east of the Netherlands. At the same time, onomasts associate the composer’s surname with place names of the same name in Belgian Flanders. In addition, onomasts propose to explain this surname from vom Rubenhof‘from a beet yard’ (i.e. a peasant farm engaged in growing beets). Moreover, they indicate borrowing from Latin beta, which first meant 'chard root' and then 'beetroot'.

Judging by telephone directories, the composer's surname is unique for modern Germany and Austria - there are no other bearers of it.

Johannes / German Johannes Brahms (1833–1897) was a German composer and pianist, one of the main representatives of the Romantic period.

German onomasts offer several etymologies for this surname.

1. Patronym (strong genitive) from the short form male name Abraham/Abraham.

2. Patronym (strong genitive) to Brahm:‘the son of the one who lives by the gorse or blackberry bush’.

3. From Middle High German bramhus‘house near a gorse or blackberry bush’. In this case, the nickname from which the surname arose indicated the place of residence.

Surname Brahms in Germany it is quite rare - 190 carriers in telephone directories (as of December 31, 2002).

Wilhelm Richard/ German Wilhelm Richard Wagner (1813–1883) - German composer, conductor, playwright (author of librettos for his operas), philosopher. The greatest reformer of opera music.

The etymology of his surname is transparent and not particularly difficult to uncover. It is based on the name of the profession: from Middle High German wager‘carriage maker, carriage maker’. In modern literary language this profession is denoted by the words Wagenbauer, Wagenmacher. Family form Wagner- South German (oberdeutsch) and in Germany it ranks 7th in frequency (as of December 31, 2002 - 82,074 speakers (telephone directory data). It is most densely represented in the state of Bavaria. In the Low German (niederdeutsch) area, i.e. Its variants are common in northern Germany. Wegener And Wegner. Other territorial modifications: Wahner, Wähner, Wehner, Weiner. In different regions of Germany, other words were used to denote the profession of a carriage maker, from which surnames were also formed: Rademacher, Rademaker(northwest), Stellmacher(northeast), Ass(en)macher(from Middle High German asse‘axis’, in the Rhineland).

Carl Maria Friedrich August (Ernst) von/ German Carl Maria von Weber (1786–1826) – German composer, conductor, pianist, music writer, founder of German romantic opera. His last name is semantically transparent. Goes back to Middle High German wëbære'weaver'. In modern German, the word is also used to denote this profession Weber.

This is one of the most common surnames in Germany. As of December 31, 2002, there were 88,544 Webers in telephone directories. In terms of the entire population of the country, this surname took 5th place. It is most densely represented in the land of North Rhine-Westphalia (composer Weber, we recall, was born in Westphalia).

Franz Joseph / German Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) – Austrian composer, representative of the Viennese classical school, one of the founders of such musical genres as symphony and string quartet.

Haydn– regional variety of surname Heiden. According to German onomasts, the surname Heiden. may be one of the following etymologies.

1. Nickname from Middle High German and Middle Low German heiden‘pagan, idolater’, Middle High German heiden'pagan'. Perhaps this nickname was given to a participant in the crusades to the country of the “infidels,” to the “holy” land.

2. From a homonymous toponym (there is one, for example, in the land of North Rhine-Westphalia).

3. From short form to male personal name Heidenrich / Heidenrich: ancient history heit‘creature’ + rīchi'powerful'.

In Austria the surname Haydn as of December 31, 2005, it was found in 161 people and occupied 2995th place in the frequency list of surnames. In Germany, this surname was found in 208 people (as of December 31, 2002). In terms of the total population of Germany and Austria in Austria the surname Haydn is more common. It should be noted that in Germany itself this surname gravitates to the south, towards the border with Austria - about 80% of all German citizens with this surname live in the state of Bavaria. The situation is different with the surname Hayden, with which the surname Haydn general lexical sources. In Germany it is represented more widely than in Austria: 1858 and 92 speakers, respectively. Moreover, in Germany it gravitates towards the northwest - more than 35% of its speakers live in North Rhine-Westphalia. Considering the above, the second version (from a toponym in northwestern Germany) should obviously be excluded from the ethmologies of the surname Haydn.

Georg Friedrich/ German Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) was a German Baroque composer known for his operas, oratorios and concertos.

Experts in German onomastics offer four etymologies for this surname.

1. Derived word Hand‘hand’ + diminutive suffix -l.

2. Last name option Hanel/Hanel(from the name Johannes/Johannes) with an additional intervocalic consonant -d-(or directly from the specified derivatives of this personal name).

3. In southeast Germany this may be a variant of a surname Heindel(from the diminutive form of a male name Heinrich/Heinrich).

4. From a nickname from Middle High German handel‘trade, action, activity, event, legal proceedings, object of trade, goods, what is at hand’.

The surname Händel appears 1023 times in German telephone directories (as of December 31, 2002). In terms of the entire population of the country, this is relatively common. In Austria, it is very rare - only 6 carriers (as of December 31, 2005).

Wolfgang Amadeus(full name Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart) / German. Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart(1756–1791) - Austrian composer, instrumentalist and conductor, virtuoso violinist, harpsichordist, organist.

/ German Strauß, Srtauss The surname of a dynasty of Austrian musicians.
The most famous: Johann (the elder) (1804–1849) - composer, conductor and violinist. His sons: Johann Strauss (Jr.) (1825–1899) - composer, conductor and violinist; Joseph Strauss (1827–1870) – composer; Eduard Strauss (1835–1916) – composer and conductor.

Although the surname Strauss in modern reference books it is often written with ß at the end, most representatives always wrote their last name with two ss. In this case, the first and second were written with different typographical characters (the so-called long and round s) – Strauss. And only Eduard Strauss wrote with ß.

Regarding the surname four versions are put forward.

1. From a nickname from Middle High German struz, strus‘ostrich bird’. This nickname could have been given by the ostrich feather that adorned the helmet. Or according to a characteristic view - in the early knightly epic "Titurel" (about 1270) there is a comparison din ougen sullen dem strouze gelichen(‘your eyes are like an ostrich’). The earliest mention of the surname is from a resident of Magdeburg (about 1162: Heinric Struz.

2. Among German surnames there is a group of surnames that go back to the so-called. names of households. They could be given various reasons, for example, by subject on a coat of arms or sign. The name of the household goes back to the second part in the naming of a resident of the Lower Saxon Eschede - Heyne vamm Strause (about 1428/38)

3. From a nickname from Middle High German struz‘resistance, discord, conflict, duel’, which could be received by a scandalous, quarrelsome person.

4. By place of residence from from Middle High German struz'bush'.

It is easy to see that the ambiguity of the etymology in this case is explained by the polysemy of the supposed original word struz.

The surname Strauss is found in both Austria and Germany. And in Germany somewhat more often. As of December 31, 2002, there were 1193 Strauss in German telephone directories, which, when calculated for the entire population of the country, gives 316th place in the frequency list of surnames. In Austria, as of December 31, 2005, there were 643 Strauss, which allows this surname to occupy 383rd place.

Franz Peter / German Franz Peter Schubert (1797–1828) is a great Austrian composer, one of the founders of romanticism in music.

The surname Schubert has quite transparent semantics. It goes back to Middle High German schuochwürhte, schuochworhte, schuchwarte'shoemaker'. That is, it is included in the group of surnames from the names of professions. As of December 31, 2005, there were 989 Schuberts living in Austria. In the frequency list, she occupied 276th place there. In Germany it is much more frequent. As of December 31, 2002, there were 27,558 Schuberts in telephone directories. In terms of the entire population of the country, it ranked 50th.

Robert / German Robert Schumann (1810–1856) – German composer, conductor, music critic, teacher.

Surname belongs to the group of professional surnames (Berufsfamiliennamen), i.e. it is based on the name of the profession. It's Middle High German schuochman'shoemaker'. It is curious that the surname of the composer Franz Schubert also translates as ‘shoemaker’. In the German literary language, the profession of a shoemaker is denoted primarily by the word Schuster, noun used less frequently Schuhmacher. The Germans also derive their surnames from these two words. It is interesting to look at the relationship between these three surnames related to the name of the shoemaker's profession in Germany.

If you look at telephone directories (as of December 31, 2002), it turns out that the most frequent of this trinity is Schuster– 22,377 speakers and 64th place in the frequency list of German surnames. Surname Schumann It is found somewhat less frequently and, with 13,632 speakers, ranks 137th. The rarest of the three is Schuhmacher(total 2981 subscribers and 988th place). But the differences concern not only the frequency, but also the regions of distribution. Yes, last name Schuster most often found in Bavaria (about 40% of all Schusters). Last name Schuhmacher most often found in Baden-Württemberg (more than 40% of all Schumachers). And here is the last name Schumann predominates in Saxony (about 20% of all Schumanns). It is worth recalling that Robert Schumann’s hometown, Zwickau, is located in Saxony. That is, it is quite natural that the composer’s distant ancestor became Schumann, and not Schuster or Schumacher.

© Nazarov Alois

The contribution of each nation to the development of human culture is assessed not by artificially lit and promoted “stars” and “stars”, the memory of which is short-lived even in one generation. And by the number of geniuses, whose names have evoked associations in people for centuries with entire movements in art. And if in terms of painting and sculpture Italy became famous for its achievements, then in the field of music the undoubted primacy belongs to Austria, which is “miniature” in area and population. The list of the most talented Austrian composers and musicians is not only impressive, but amazes with the number of world-famous names. And in front of a dozen names, the most skilled craftsmen of our time take off their “hat” with reverence.
The leading position among the geniuses “gifted” by Austria to humanity is undoubtedly occupied by one of the representatives of the Viennese classical school of composition, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart), who lived a short but bright life genius (born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, and died December 5, 1791 in Vienna). The genius of the composer is so great that the surviving records of his abilities border on unreality, and the music he wrote has no limitations in perception. They listened to Mozart with pleasure in the 18th century. XIX, XX centuries, regardless of social status and level of intellectual development. His music evokes the same admiration even now. Main topic The 40th Symphony in G minor is heard from mobile phones and performed by highly professional orchestras in philharmonic societies. Today they “hum” Mozart, sometimes without even knowing the name of the genius himself. Countless "remakes" of his works on modern style many musical groups, essentially blasphemous, but very popular today are not able to drown out the genius and beauty of Mozart’s music. And although many true connoisseurs of art perceive them as an outrage against the great works of genius, they provide their effect of aesthetic education of young people in the modern period of decline and “rollback” of culture. By the age of 17, Mozart had composed four operas, 13 symphonies, 24 sonatas and a lot of smaller compositions. And by the time mysterious death the number of works written by Mozart was simply enormous. The most significant and famous were the six famous string quartets dedicated to Joseph Haydn, the operas “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”, “Cosi fan tutte”, “The Magic Flute”, “The Abduction from the Seraglio”, symphony No. 39 in E-flat major , No. 40 in G minor, No. 41 in C major (“Jupiter”) and a majestic requiem, not completed due to sudden death composer.
No less significant contribution to the development classical music contributed by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), instrumental works and whose symphonies brought up more than one generation of bright talented musicians. 104 symphonies composed in a simply crazy way short terms, 83 quartets, 52 piano sonatas, 14 masses and operas were left behind by this genius, an optimist in music, striking with his irrepressible energy and positivity. Haydn's oratorios "The Creation of the World" (1798) and "The Seasons" (1801) became the standard of classical writing for many composers.
The “elite” of classical music of the world deservedly includes:
- composer, pianist, teacher and conductor Franz Liszt (October 22, 1811 - July 31, 1886), rightfully considered the greatest pianist XIX century, which left 647 works as a legacy to descendants. The most significant of them are 63 for orchestra, about 300 arrangements for piano, 14 symphonic poems, the symphonies “Faust” and “Divina comedia”;
- creator of the operatic movement Christoph Willibald Gluck (July 2, 1714—November 15, 1787), who wrote more than 50 operas, interludes and ballets, the most significant of which are the operas Semiramis (1748), Orpheus, Alcestes, Paris and Helen "(1761-1764), "Iphigenia in Aulis" (1774), "Armida" (1777) and "Iphigenia in Tauris" (1779);
- Franz Peter Schubert (January 31, 1797 - November 19, 1828), recognized after death for his unforgettable 6 masses, 7 symphonies, 15 operas, etc. for his thoughtfulness and skill;
- Leopold de Meyer (December 20, 1816 - March 6, 1883), who wrote and performed virtuoso plays. His "contribution" to world art- “Moroccan March”, fantasies on themes from popular operas (“Norma” and “The Puritans” by Bellini, “Elisir of Love” and “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Donizetti, “Semiramis” by Rossini), the cycle “Russian Songs”, piano compositions and arrangements;
- Carl Czerny, known to any pianist (February 21, 1791, Vienna - July 15, 1857), whose piano etudes cannot be avoided by either beginners or experienced masters.
It would be a shame not to remember the Waltz King Johann Strauss (October 25, 1825 - June 3, 1899), who together with his father and brothers raised dance music to the symphonic level. Strauss left behind 168 waltzes, 117 polkas, 73 quadrilles, 43 marches, 31 mazurkas, 15 operettas, comic opera and ballet. And the composer's waltzes are simply the limit of perfection. “Songs of Love” (Liebeslieder, 1852), “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” (An der schönen blauen Donau, 1867), “The Life of an Artist” (Künstlerleben, 1867), “Tales of the Vienna Woods” (G'schichten aus dem Wienerwald, 1868 ), “Wine, Women and Songs” (Wein, Weib und Gesang, 1869), “A Thousand and One Nights” (Tausend und eine Nacht, 1871) and many others have been heard in many countries of the world for the second century and do not lose their popularity.

Austria has a rich cultural past and present. Its residents honor their traditions and hold many festivals and other events. Austrian classics made a great contribution to the development of human culture. Particularly famous music world of this country. However, there are also very popular names in the field of literature.

Classic writers and poets of the 19th century: list

• Adalbert Stifter.
• Johann Nepomuk Nestroy.
• Carl Emil Franzoz
• Ludwig Anzengruber.
• Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.
• Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach.
• Nikolaus Lenau.
• Peter Rosegger.
• Ferdinand Raymond.
• Franz Grillparzer.
• Ferdinand von Saar.
• Charles Sealsfield.

Features of Austrian culture

Austrian poetry is unique and unusual. She has her own unique language and style, special ways and techniques for conveying the meaning of life.

It was in the 19th century that an internal ideological and moral unity of culture developed in Austria. The Austrian classics of this century achieved extraordinary heights in all fields of art.

It is impossible to understand a culture like this amazing country, if you read or listen to the works of these creators superficially and indifferently. It is very important to understand their essence, deep meaning. Only then will creations reveal their amazing side.

If you “break through” the dry and rough surface of Franz Grillparzer’s poetry, you can get inside his world.

If you overcome the vastness of Adalbert Stifter’s descriptions, then each word will be perceived as indescribably expressive and reverently subtle. embedded in poetry If you overcome the external incoherence of his lines, then this poet will become extremely interesting to many.

The Austrian classics seem to deliberately surround their world with a protective layer from the bad taste, insipidity and vulgarity common in the 19th century (and not only).

A true creator will not abandon his work to the mercy of fate. It is easier for him to be misunderstood today. Let it happen later. But he doesn’t want to be misunderstood at all.

19th century Austrian literature

The 19th century for Austria is a “bourgeois” era. Especially in the second half of this century there is a split in cultural life countries. Entertainment becomes the main focus. It’s no wonder why Viennese operetta is conquering the whole world. In the second half of the 19th century, the concept of "Viennese" folk theater"loses its former meaning. It is quite obvious that in such conditions literature arose on behalf of the people. It was literature in which German and Slavic cultural elements were closely intertwined.

The Slavic theme greatly worried the writers of Austria. The historical tragedy “The Happiness and Death of King Ottokar” is an outstanding work of its time. It was written by the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer. He also owns the wonderful drama “Libusha”. In the works of Adalbert Stifter Slavic theme occupies a significant place.

Maria von Ebner-Eschenbach is another outstanding writer. She had a direct relationship with the Slavs: she came from the aristocratic Dubsky family.

The great writers of Austria, in such a difficult time, dreamed of friendship and peace between nations. All this was directly reflected in their excellent works.

Brief information about Austrian poets

Austrian poets made a great contribution to the development of the culture of their country. Their wonderful works are loved by those readers who understand and appreciate their work.

Georg Trakl (1887-1914) lived, as we see, very little. Only 27 years old. He was born in Salzburg in 1887. He began writing poetry from his high school years. He owns the following plays: “Day of Obedience”, “Fata Morgana”, “Mary Magdalene”, “Dreamland”. From 1910 to 1911 he served in the army. Since 1912 he has been a member of the literary community "Pan". A year later, his first collection of poems was published. In 1914 he was drafted into the army. He saw with his own eyes the horror of war. His psyche could not stand it, and he committed suicide.

René Carl Maria Rilke lived from 1875 to 1926. Since 1894, his first stories have been published, as well as the collection “Life and Songs”.

Two years later, his second collection, “Victims of Laram,” was published. In 1897 he visited Venice and then Berlin, where he settled. Here he creates three more poetry collections. The writer Lou Andreas-Salomé had a great influence on him. In 1899 he came to Russia. Here he met Leonid Pasternak, Ilya Repin, Leo Tolstoy, Boris Pasternak and many other artists.

In 1901 he moved to Paris. Until his death, he corresponded with Marina Tsvetaeva, whom he never met. Died in 1926.

Stefan Zweig

The writer Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) is an outstanding Austrian classicist. Born in Vienna. In 1905 he goes to Paris. Since 1906 he has been traveling through Italy, Spain, India, the USA, and Cuba. In 1917-1918 he lived in Switzerland. After the war he settled near Salzburg. In 1901, his first book, “Silver Strings,” was published. He was friends with such outstanding cultural figures as Rilke, Rolland, Maserel, Rodin, Mann, Hesse, Wells and many others. During the war years he wrote an essay about Rolland - “The Conscience of Europe”. The author became widely known thanks to his short stories “Amok”, “Confusion of Feelings”, “Chess Novella”. Zweig often created interesting biographies and masterfully worked with historical documents. In 1935 he wrote the book “The Triumph and Tragedy of Erasmus of Rotterdam.” On February 22, 1942, he and his wife took a large dose of sleeping pills and died. He categorically did not accept this world.

Composers of Austria

Austrian classical composers evoke associations among many people with entire movements of art. The list of the most talented composers and musicians in Austria is staggering in its scale. This:

Franz Joseph Haydn

Austrian composer, the brightest representative schools. They were subject to him different genres. He wrote 104 symphonies, 83 quartets, 52 piano sonatas, as well as his legacy - oratorios, operas and masses. He was born on March 31, 1732 in Rohrau. Early on he mastered playing several instruments at once. In the period 1759-1761. served with Count Morcin, and then took the position of vice-bandmaster at the court of Prince Esterházy. At the beginning of the service, he composed mainly instrumental music. This is a triptych of symphonies “Morning”, “Noon”, “Evening and Storm”. In the late 1660s - early 1670s he wrote serious and dramatic symphonies. Particularly noteworthy are “Complaint”, “Mourning”, “Suffering”, “Farewell”. During this period he wrote eighteen string quartets. Haydn Joseph He also wrote operas. The most famous are “The Apothecary”, “Deceived Infidelity”, “Moonlight World”, “Loyalty Rewarded”, “Roland the Paladin”, “Armida”. In 1787 he wrote six quartets. Researchers note that they were created under the influence of the concerts of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After the death of Prince Esterhazy (1790), Haydn received creative freedom and the opportunity to travel to other cities. In London he created his last twelve symphonies. Died in Vienna on March 31, 1809.

Conclusion

Thus, the Austrian classics made a great contribution to the development of human culture. Austrian poetry is distinguished by its unusual language and style. In order to understand the culture of this amazing country, you need to read or listen to the works of art of its classics thoughtfully and carefully, trying to grasp their essence. And creations will open from an unexpected side.

Music and Austria are inseparable concepts

Austria has always been a renowned world music center. Every year in every region of the country music festivals, which attract famous musicians from all over the world. But the “most musical” city in Austria is its capital, Vienna. As Stefan Zweig so aptly put it, Vienna is “a magnificently orchestrated city.”

In Austria, music is given great attention. Music is a compulsory subject in the school curriculum. Love for her is brought up in children with early childhood. Christian traditions also played a role here - Austrians attend church with their families every week, thereby introducing the younger generation to church hymns and organ music. The history of choral singing in Austria goes back many centuries. At the end of the 15th century, the Vienna Boys' Choir was founded, which still exists today. In every small town you are sure to find some kind of singing group or chapel.

The Austrians reverently honor and preserve their musical culture and history. Since there are countless famous Austrian musicians and composers, several anniversaries can be celebrated per year. For example, 1999 was the year of Johann Strauss, famous for his beautiful waltzes.

The theater season for Vienna is a special event. Concert halls and the former palaces of the nobility are filled to capacity with art lovers.Although the dawn of opera came in turn of XIX-XX centuries, opera traditions in Vienna are still strong, and the Austrian capital along with New York, London and Milan remains the center of this art form. Viennese opera house stands out from the background of other buildings with its pomp and pomp.

The musical season in Vienna reaches its climax in February, when balls and masquerades are held. The most famous ball is the Vienna Ball ( Opernball ), held annually at the Vienna Opera House. The audience here is only from high society, and the ticket price is appropriate - at least 50 thousand dollars.

Vienna Ball at the Vienna Opera House

The Austrians revere their great countrymen in every possible way. On one of the most beautiful Viennese streets, Kärtnerstrasse, the Walk of Fame of great musicians and composers was opened. More than seventy granite and marble slabs with the names of prominent figures in musical art were installed in the pavement.

Prominent Austrian composers

Bruckner Anton(1824 - 1896) - composer and organist, famous for sacred music, 9 symphonies and music for choir and orchestra. C his most famous work is the mass " Te Deum."

Haydn Franz Joseph (1732 - 1809) - great founder of classical instrumental music, representative of the Viennese classical school. Haydn left a huge creative heritage: more than 100 symphonies, more than 30 operas, oratorios, 14 masses, over 30 concerts for musical instruments. The pinnacle of his work is 12 “London Symphonies” (written in England). Haydn acquired the honorary title of “father of the symphony.”

Kreisler Fritz(1875 - 1962) - virtuoso violinist and composer. Rachmaninov called Kreisler " the best violinist peace." His compositions include operetta, works for violin, and numerous plays. Nowadays, “Chinese Tambourine”, “Pangs of Love”, “Wonderful Rosemary”, “Joy of Love”, etc. are often performed as encores.

Mahler Gustav(1860 - 1911) - composer and talented conductor, author of 10 symphonies. His “Epic Song of the Earth” (based on Chinese poetry) is widely known VIII century), "Songs of the Wandering Apprentice", a cycle of songs based on folk motifs“The Boy's Magic Horn”, etc. Mahler had a particularly strong influence on Shostakovich.

Vein. Monument to Mozart.

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus (1756 - 1791) - one of the greatest composers, bandmaster, virtuoso violinist, organist. Representative of the Vienna Classical School. Possessed perfect musical ear and unsurpassed memory. His masterpieces include symphonies, operas (The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute), cantatas, oratorios, masses, including Requiem, the creation of which is shrouded in mystery. Mozart’s works are distinguished by poetry and subtle grace. His melodies are very popular among our contemporaries: “Closer to the Dream”, “Little Night Serenade”, “Melody of Rain”, “Elvira Madigan”, “Turkish March”, “Melody of Angels”, etc.

SchubertFranz(1797 - 1828) – first great composer- romantic, author of about 600 songs and ballads (words by Heine, Schiller, Goethe, Shakespeare), 400 dances, including waltzes, 9 symphonies, sonatas, as well as piano music. Schubert’s works have not yet lost their popularity, for example, “Serenade "from the collection "Swan Song", as well as the songs "Shelter", "By the Sea", "Trout", aria " Ave Maria " When Schubert was still young, Beethoven declared prophetically: “Truly, the spark of God lives in this Schubert! He will make the whole world talk about himself!”

The Strauss musical dynasty

Did you know that the Strauss family had not one, but four musicians!

Strauss Johann(1804 - 1849) - father, founder of a musical dynasty. Composer, violinist and conductor. C With his orchestra, Strauss successfully toured Europe. He gave the world more than 250 compositions: quadrilles, marches, waltzes (which make up two-thirds of Strauss's works). The waltzes “Lorelei's Lament on the Rhine” and “Suspension Bridges” enjoyed particular success. But the most famous composition of Father Strauss is the Radetzky March.

Strauss Johann(1825 - 1899) - eldest son. Recognized as the "king of the waltz", composer and conductor, o He was an innovator in rhythm and orchestration. Already at the age of 19, Johann made his conducting debut. His melodic talent is reflected in 496 works: waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, marches, mazurkas. The famous Strauss waltzes “On the Beautiful Blue Danube”, “The Joys of Life”, “Tales of the Vienna Woods”, “Farewell to St. Petersburg”, “Voices of Spring”, “Roses from the South”, as well as operettas “ Bat", "The Gypsy Baron", "Carnival in Rome", etc. Like his father, Strauss traveled all over Europe with his orchestra. He also performed in New York. Tchaikovsky admired Strauss's works.

Strauss Joseph(1827 - 1870) - younger brother of Johann Strauss. A talented violinist and conductor. Author of the “Persian March”, the polkas “Cuckoo”, “Pizzicato”, as well as the delightful waltzes “Madness”, “Swallows of the Austrian Villages”, “My Life is Joy and Love”, “Madness”, “Watercolors”, etc.

Strauss Eduard(1835 - 1916) - third brother in the Strauss family. Like his brothers, he played the violin, conducted, and composed waltzes. He wrote about 200 dance pieces, following the traditions of his father and older brother. In 1890, Eduard came to Russia and conducted with great success in Pavlovsk.

The Vienna State Opera House seats 2,209 spectators

Every year in Europe there is a “Strauss Festival” dedicated to the work of the Strauss. It takes place in Spain, Austria, Portugal, Germany, Italy, France.

Mozart, Beethoven, Johann Strauss, Johann Strauss (son), Vivaldi, Schubert, Brahms, Lanner, Gluck, Salieri, Mahler, Schoenberg, Haydn, Zemlinsky, Chopin -Great composers with whose names Vienna is associated!!

Vienna and its Geniuses!

WOLFGANG MOZART...

On January 28, 1756, in the Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart was baptized with the name: Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus. Johannes Chrysostomus Mozart receives in honor of St., Patriarch of Constantinople and protector of preachers. The name Wolfgang is in honor of Wolfgang's grandfather Nikolaus Pertl (1667-1724) and Theophilus in honor of Johann Gottlieb Pergmayer.

Mozart's father, Johann Georg Leopold Mozart, was born in Augsburg and was the son of a master bookbinder, Johann Mozart. In addition to his liberal arts education, he receives cello and organ lessons. Afterwards he goes to Salzburg, where, after studying at Benedictine University, he receives a bachelor's degree in philosophy.

Due to irregular attendance at lectures, he was expelled from the university and in the person of Count Canon Turn Valsassina (servant of the Cathedral of Salzburg) he finds help, becomes a musician and composer for the count (his first works were dedicated to the count).

A few years later he becomes the fourth violin of the Archbishop of Salzburg and receives a position as a cello teacher for the children of the music workshop at the cathedral. Translations of his “Versuch einer grundlichen Violinschule“ (basics of a cello school) are published in Holland, France and Russia as a textbook.

In 1763, he received the title of Vice-Capellmeister of the Salburg Palace Chapel, where he actually worked until the end of his life. Anna Maria Walburga Mozart, nee Pertl, Mozart’s mother devoted her life to her children and husband, and even in the most difficult situations remained calm, which was reflected in the whole family.

The daughter of Judge Bishop Wolfgang Nikolaus Pertl was born in St. Galgen, very close to Salzburg on December 25, 1720, after early death father, she and her mother go to Salzburg and before her marriage leads a more than modest lifestyle. Of the seven children from his marriage to Leopold Mozart, two remain alive – Mozart’s sister Maria Anna (Nanerl) and Wolfgang.

She died in Paris on July 3, 1778 at the age of 57, accompanying her son to Paris, from a fever. At the age of 4, Wolfgang had already learned the Allegro, one day before his 5th summer day birth, I learned minuet and trio in half an hour..

The first compositions appeared when Mozart was not yet 5 years old. Both Mozart and his sister Nanerl never attended school and their teacher, not only music, was their father Leopold Mozart.

Leopold Mozart taught children history, geography, and mathematics in Latin, French or Italian, and, if necessary, in English. Nanerl was not given as much attention as Wolfgang and she only received clavier lessons when she was 7 years old and in Nanerl’s memories, Mozart sat at the clavier sometimes nights and days, until he was sent to rest..

He was a little dreamer, an excellent card player, his abilities were not only in the field of music... His father’s authoritarian character and soft, smoothing conflict situations The mother's character allowed an almost always harmonious atmosphere to reign in Mozart's house.

Mozart wrote about 23 works for the theater, about 15 operas, including the brilliant “The Magic Flute”, “Don Giovanni”, “Figaro”, “The Abduction from the Seraglio”, “La Clemenza di Titus”.

Joseph Haydn

Their last days The great composer spends his time in the town of Gumpendorf, one of the former suburbs of Vienna, being already a widower and weak to accompany, but still full of strength to receive diplomats, musicians, writers, and actors.

Carl Maria von Weber, having visited Haydn because of his great desire to be a student of the Great Master, later writes in his diary “... it is so touching to see gray-haired men kissing Haydn’s hands and calling him “Papa.” Haydn’s biographer Albert Christophe Dies writes about Haydn’s appearance, according to the recollections of the ladies, is “short in stature and his face is scarred from smallpox,” “Papa” himself responds, “My appearance is by no means seductive..”.

But Haydn’s fame and glamor fascinated women no less.

Who was this GREAT COMPOSER Haydn Joseph??

Joseph Haydn was born on March 31 in a small estate, the residence of the count family of Harrach, not far from the border with Hungary, “a calm place, not without energy, but without much temperament,” writes the German publicist Heinrich Jacob.

Father Matthias Haydn was a carriage maker, Councilor and later judge Rohrau. Mother Anna Maria, cook in the kitchen in the palace of the Counts of Harrach. My father, who played the harp a little, often played music, and music and singing were heard in the Haydn house on weekends.

At the age of six, little Haydn left home and fell under the care of his relative and director of the educational institution Matthias Frank in the town of Hainburg. Little Haydn’s musical abilities were exceptional and when the conductor of the Vienna Cathedral, Reutter the Younger Georg, while in search of gifted offspring, heard Haydn’s voice, he was pleased surprised and it was proposed to transfer him to the church choir at the cathedral.

From the age of eight, little Haydn sang in the choir. Young Maria Theresa ascends the throne and young Haydn now appears quite often at the court of the Great Empress and soon young Haydn is universally called a Genius.

The impoverished Vivaldi, Mozart's eternal debts and the impoverished existence of many great composers may have served as an example for Haydn that he sought to obtain a position at the court of a noble family.

Haydn's cheerful nature quite often led to funny things. While still a soloist cathedral he cut off the braid of one of the choir soloists because of an offense against the conductor, when he was about to expel Haydn from the choir, due to the loss (“broken”) of his voice.

Mother, as befitted virtuous parents at that time, sends Haydn to spiritual service, to which Haydn protests, but temporary service along this path played an important role in Haydn’s life.

For some time he was a soloist in the Mariacel church, where he received a good salary and this decisively affected his desire: “To work as professionally as possible, thereby earning as much as possible.”

Renting an apartment on Kohlmarkt, today the street of the most expensive shops, he meets the tenants of this house, Maria Octavia Esterhazy, Nicola Porpora, Metastasio!! and since Vienna at that time was the metropolis of music, as it is today, Haydn quickly became popular among aristocratic circles. Music at that time was not necessarily academic everywhere and the mixing of folklore and classical was a completely normal phenomenon, and Haydn’s first opera “The Crooked Devil” was exactly like that, unfortunately today no one hears this opera.