Our “Meet the Composer” series introduces students to a wide range of composers. Many more composers coming soon - stay tuned!

Nannerl Notenbuch: No. 1, Menuet in C Major

J.C. Bach - W A2 - Keyboard Sonata Op. 5 No. 2 in D major

Mozart Symphony 31 D Major -- KV 297 -- 3rd Movement Allegro

Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, Op. 6 No. 2, K. 331 "Alla turca": III. Allegrino. Alla turca

Papageno and Papagena Duet from The Magic Flute

Claudio Abbado  - Mozart Requiem - Lacrimosa

In this K-5 music lesson, learn about famous composer Mozart's life from childhood on!


Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum/Decca Classics

Hannah Rosholt/MPR

Papageno & Papagena Duet from THE MAGIC FLUTE 2013

Prince Fielder CLASSICAL Walk-Up Music!

Meet the Composer: Mozart

Class Notes: How History Influences Music

Seattle Symphony Orchestra; Gerard Schwarz, conductor

Hary Janos Suite, V. Intermezzo - Zoltán Kodály

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra; Mei-Ann Chen, conductor

Folk Songs for Orchestra, III. Girl from the Da Ban City - Huang Ruo

 "Sweet Betsy from Pike," from 19 American Folk Songs for Piano - Ruth Crawford Seeger

Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra; Adam Fischer, conductor

Romanian Folk Dances, I. Joc cu bata (Stick Dance) - Béla Bartók

Fort Smith Symphony; John Jeter, conductor

Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, I. Tempo moderato - Florence Price

World events and personal history influence the music that composers create. The story of composer Zoltán Kodály provides a good example of history's influence on music.


How History Influences Music

Zoltan Kodaly - Hary Janos Suite: Intermezzo

Huang Ruo
Folk Songs for Orchestra, III. Girl from the Da Ban City
River Oaks Chamber Orchestra; Mei-Ann Chen, conductor

Ruo -- Folk Songs for Orchestra, III. Girl from the Da Ban City

Ruth Crawford Seeger
"Sweet Betsy from Pike," from 19 American Folk Songs for Piano
Virginia Eskin, piano

Seeger -- "Sweet Betsy from Pike," from 19 American Folk Songs for Piano

Bela Bartok
Romanian Folk Dances, I. Joc cu bata (Stick Dance)
Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra; Adam Fischer, conductor

Bartok -- Romanian Folk Dances, I. Joc cu bata (Stick Dance)

Florence Price
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, I. Tempo moderato
Fort Smith Symphony; John Jeter, conductor

Price -- Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, I. Tempo moderato

Classical MPR graphic

Meet the Composer: Kodály

Für Elise - Ludwig van Beethoven

Gewandhausorchester Leipzig; Herbert Blomstedt, conductor

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 I. Allegro con brio - Ludwig van Beethoven

String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 IV. Alla danza tedesca - Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 II. Allegretto - Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven: Sonata No. 5 for Cello in D Major, Op. 102, No. 2 - III. Allegro fugato

Ever heard of a composer named Beethoven? In this lesson, we'll learn a few basics about the composer, his life, and music. Plus, we'll listen to a few greatest hits.


Ludwig van Beethoven
F&uuml;r Elise
Louis Lortie

F&uuml;r Elise

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 I. Allegro con brio
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig; Herbert Blomstedt. conductor

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 I. Allegro con brio

Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 IV. Alla danza tedesca
Yale Quartet

String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat Major, Op. 130 IV. Alla danza tedesca

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 II. Allegretto
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig; Herbert Blomstedt. conductor

Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92 II. Allegretto

Valdas Miskinis/Pixabay 

Images from Pixabay

Wikimedia Commons

Meet the Composer: Beethoven

Josef Suk, violin; Lincoln Mayorga, piano

Violin Sonatina in G Major, Op. 100, II. Larghetto - Antonín Dvořák

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Marin Alsop, conductor

Symphony No. 7, III. Scherzo - Antonín Dvořák

Maria Kliegel, cello; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Michael Halasz, conductor

Cello Concerto, II. Adagio ma non troppo - Antonín Dvořák

String Quartet No. 12 "American," IV. Vivace ma non troppo - Antonín Dvořák

Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra; Zdenek Kosler, conductor

Slavonic Dance No. 9 - Antonín Dvořák

Learn about composer Antonín Dvořák and his Minnesota inspiration in his piece, "The New World."


Antonin Dvorak
Violin Sonatina in G Major, Op. 100, II. Larghetto
Josef Suk, violin; Lincoln Mayorga, piano

Meet the Composer

Meet the Composer: Mozart

Meet the Composer: Kodály

Meet the Composer: Beethoven

Meet the Composer: Dvořák