Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788) Germany
C. P. E. Bach was born in 1714 in Germany, the son of Baroque composer J. S. Bach. He was an excellent keyboard player, well-known throughout Germany, He also spent 30 years as the court composer for Frederick the Great in Prussia.
Most famous flute repertoire: flute sonatas
Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-1787) France, Austria, Italy
Gluck was born in 1714. At the age of 18, he moved to Vienna to make his living as a musician. He became a member of the palace orchestra and studied composition with famous composers there. He traveled widely throughout his life. In London, he met George Friederich Handel, who greatly influenced his work. In 1750, Gluck married Marianna Bergin, who was very wealthy. He contiunued to write operas and became famous. "Orpheus and Euridice," written to be a contemporary opera, premiered in 1762. This was the first of Gluck's many attempts to reform the opera. In 1779, Gluck had a stroke and returned to Vienna. He could no longer compose. He died in 1787 in Paris of alcohol addiction. He was very successful throughout his life and after his death, but recently his works have been less successful.
Most famous flute repertoire: "Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits" from "Orpheus and Euridice"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) France, Italy, Austria
Mozart was born in 1756. By age 5, he was playing the harpsichord and composing music. He became very popular as a child star and traveled throughout Europe performing music. He took music lessons from his dad and also made friends with many famous musicians of the time. He continued his musical tours of Europe until age 17, when he moved to Paris to become a court musician. At age 25, he moved to Vienna. He married Constanze Weber in 1782, and continued to compose music and give piano lessons. Mozart died in 1791; the cause of his death is still unknown. His works were forgotten shortly after his death but are now very famous and well-loved.
Most famous flute repertoire: Concertos in G, D, and C.
We can not despair about mankind knowing that Mozart was a man. -Albert Einstein
