Several of Tomoko's favorite composers were born in December. Here is a chronological sampling.
December 17, 1770 Beethoven was born in Bonn. His piano compositions reflected the transition from Classical to Romantic eras. Known for a variety of musical forms, his first opus was a piano trio, which was written at age 25 for his patron Prince Lichnowsky.
December 10, 1822 Cesar Franck was born in Liege (Belgium). He was not only a composer, in the Romantic tradition, but also a music teacher, improviser of novel instruments, pianist and organist. At age 16 her took first prize in piano composition at the Paris Conservatoire.
December 8, 1865 Sibelius was born in Hameenlinna, and is known as Finland's greatest composer. His music helped the country develop a national identity; his pieces were often inspired by Finland's nature and mythology.
December 3, 1883 Anton Webern was born in Vienna. Following his mentor Schoenberg, Webern was known for his atonal and twelve-tone techniques, which also reflet an expressionist coloring. His music was condemned by the Nazis.
December 8, 1890 Martinu was born in Policka (Czech Republic). He is known his his dense neoclassic style, which drew from Czech folk elements. He tended to compose music for mixed instruments, including piano duos with another instrument such as the timpani.
December 10, 1908 Messiaen was born in Avignon. Like Franck, Messiaen entered the Paris Conservatoire – at age 11. e too was a music teacher, lifelong organist and experimenter with new instruments such as electronic ones. While a WWII prisoner he composed and performed a piece for the four instruments available in the the prison. After the war he became a professor at the Conservatoire where he was a student almost 50 years earlier.
