A child prodigy who died young in music11/29/2023 The first musical “superstar” and perhaps history’s greatest piano virtuoso, Franz Liszt began rigorous musical training with his multinstrumentalist father. His talent, innovation, and influence coupled with his close relationships with Franz Liszt and George Sand cemented him as one of the most important figures of the Romantic era. With his delicate, intimate style, the salon was his preferred environment throughout his life, and in adulthood he mainly supported himself by teaching piano and by selling his compositions. Gaining a reputation as a “second Mozart”, he was popular in the salons of the Polish aristocracy, but was then oblivious to his own popularity after one concert, he reportedly told his mother that the audience was admiring his shirt collar. By age 7, he was giving private concerts and published his first compositions the same year. Fanny was a great musical inspiration to and influence on him until her death, six months before his.įrederic Chopin, by Maria Wodziska 5- Frédéric ChopinĬhopin, Poland’s most significant composer, began studying piano with Czech pianist Wojciech Żywny at age 6, but may have received earlier instruction from his mother, who, like his father, gave music lessons. In addition to his compositions, one of Felix’s greatest legacies was the founding of the Leipzig Conservatory of Music in 1843. Felix began composing prolifically at this time, and composed Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dreamin 1816. Both siblings were tutored by Marie Bigot in Paris, and studied composition with Zelter at the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin beginning in 1819 at ages 14 and 10. Unfortunately, the prevailing attitudes of the era meant that while her father and brother supported her musicianship privately, many of Fanny’s 460 compositions were published under Felix’s name. Felix’s sister Fanny, the eldest Mendelssohn child, also displayed virtuosic talent at a young age in fact, she was initially favoured over Felix by her father and her teacher, Carl Friedrich Zelter. German composer, pianist, organist and conductor Felix Mendelssohn began composing complex and masterful works at age 10, though maintained a conservative style, distinct in the revolutionary Romantic era, throughout his life. Poetzelberge 3 & 4- Fanny and Felix Mendelssohnįanny born 1805, died 1847 Felix born 1809, died 1847, debut at age 9 He pioneered techniques involving manual dexterity, which were still uncommon in the early 19 thcentury.įanny and Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) by R. His technique and skill was such that he was rumored to have made a deal with the devil, but his talents were physical, rather than diabolical, in nature: with long fingers and exceptional flexibility, Paganini could play an extraordinary three octaves across four strings in a hand span. His first public performance was at a church in 1794 before age 12. Moving to violin at age 7, his virtuosity earned him scholarships and a string of prominent teachers. Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840), Daniel Maclise, Royal Academy of Music 2- Niccolò Paganiniīest-known as one of the seminal figures of modern violin technique and as a composer, Paganini was also a violist and guitarist who began learning the mandolin from his father, who was a part-time musician to supplement his income, at age 5. One of Purcell’s defining characteristics was his ability to learn French and Italian Baroque styles while still maintaining his individuality to write in a style that became distinctively English. 1670, composed by Master Purcell, one of the Children of the said Chapel », written when he was 11, but he probably wrote the three-part song Sweet tyranness, I now resignwhen he was 9. The earliest of Purcell’s compositions that can be definitively attributed is « The Address of the Children of the Chapel Royal to the King and their Master, Captain Cooke, on His Majestie’s Birthday, A.D. He began studying music around age 5 thanks to his well-connected musician uncle. One of the greatest and perhaps most influential of the English composers, Henry Purcell was born into a musical family, including his father and younger brother who was also a prolific composer. Henri Purcell, artiste inconnu, 1695 1- Henry Purcell Here are some of history’s youngest classical musicians. But history is full of cases of exceptionally musical children before the advent of after-school piano lessons and Baby Mozart videos. We all know about Mozart and Beethoven, who displayed their musical talents at an early age and were eagerly promoted by their fathers. ![]() (Photo: Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec)
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