March 21

Born in 1527 in Pirna, Hermann Finck studied and later taught at the University of Wittenberg, where he became a respected music professor. He composed a variety of sacred motets, madrigals, and masses that contributed to the richness of early German Renaissance music. Finck’s writings on music theory, including his treatise “Practica musica,” were influential in shaping contemporary understanding of counterpoint and composition. His work bridged medieval traditions and emerging Renaissance styles, influencing students and colleagues alike. He died in 1558, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the intellectual and artistic currents of his era.

Johann Sebastian Bach was born in 1685 into a musical family in Eisenach, Germany, and developed extraordinary compositional skills from a young age. He served as court musician, organist, and Kapellmeister at various German courts, including Köthen and Leipzig. Bach composed a vast repertoire of cantatas, concertos, fugues, and keyboard works, demonstrating unparalleled mastery of counterpoint and harmony. His music was deeply rooted in Lutheran traditions, yet his innovative techniques influenced generations of composers. Bach passed away in 1750, and his legacy endures through iconic works such as the Brandenburg Concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier, and the Mass in B minor.

Josef Seger was born in Prague and became one of the leading organists of his time, composing hundreds of preludes, fugues, and choral works. He served as organist at the Church of Our Lady before Týn and taught at the Prague Conservatory. Seger’s works bridged Baroque and Classical styles, and his instructional methods shaped generations of Czech musicians. He was also known for his skill in improvisation at the organ. Seger’s legacy endures in the central European organ tradition.

Born in 1839 near St. Petersburg, Modest Mussorgsky was a member of the influential 'The Five' group of Russian composers. He served as a civil servant while composing groundbreaking works that drew on Russian history and folklore. Mussorgsky’s masterpieces include the piano suite 'Pictures at an Exhibition,' the opera 'Boris Godunov,' and the tone poem 'Night on Bald Mountain.' His unorthodox harmonic language and dramatic storytelling broke from Western European traditions and inspired later composers. Despite struggling with financial difficulties and health issues, he continued to compose until his untimely death in 1881. Today, Mussorgsky’s music is celebrated for its raw emotion, national character, and bold innovation.

Hans Hofmann was a leading figure in abstract expressionism and a revered art instructor who bridged European modernism and the American avant-garde. After studying under Henri Matisse and exhibiting in Paris, he moved to the United States in 1930, founding art schools in New York and Provincetown, Massachusetts. His theories on color, form, and spatial relationships inspired a generation of artists, including Lee Krasner and Helen Frankenthaler. Hofmann's own paintings are celebrated for their bold color palettes and dynamic compositions. Over a career spanning six decades, he held numerous exhibitions worldwide and received many honors for his contributions to modern art.

Active in the early 20th century, Clarice Beckett studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School and developed a distinctive tonal palette. She worked primarily en plein air, capturing foggy mornings and twilight over suburban Melbourne's quiet streets. Beckett was a member of the Twenty Melbourne Painters Society and exhibited regularly, though her work was underappreciated during her lifetime. She was influenced by her teacher Max Meldrum, whose tonal theory guided her subtle color harmonies. After her premature death in 1935, her oeuvre was rediscovered in the 1970s, leading to renewed attention. Today, Beckett is regarded as a pioneering figure in Australian modernism.

Lajos Kassák was a central figure in the Central European avant-garde during the early 20th century. He founded the journals A Tett and MA, which became platforms for Dada, Expressionist, and Constructivist art. As a writer, he published experimental poetry and novels that challenged traditional literary forms. His paintings and graphic work blended bold typography with abstraction and social commentary. Kassák was also an outspoken critic of authoritarian regimes and used his art to advocate for political and social reform. Despite censorship and political repression, he continued to teach, publish, and inspire younger artists throughout his life.

Hannah Ryggen studied weaving independently and moved to Norway, where she created monumental tapestries featuring themes of social justice, war, and resistance. Her work responded to contemporary events such as the rise of fascism, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II. Ryggen combined folk art techniques with modernist sensibilities, using bold colors and symbolic imagery to convey powerful messages. She exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale, and influenced the field of textile art worldwide. Despite facing gender and cultural biases in the art world, her legacy has been reassessed by feminist and art historians. Ryggen remains a pioneering voice in protest art and a symbol of artistic activism.

Sim Gokkes studied composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory and became known for his choral pieces, often setting Hebrew and Dutch texts to music. As a conductor, he led several amateur and professional choirs, promoting contemporary Dutch compositions. Gokkes was also a dedicated music educator, teaching theory and composition to a generation of Dutch musicians. His career was tragically cut short when he and his family were deported during the Holocaust; he died in Sobibor in 1943. Posthumous performances and archives have revived interest in his works. Gokkes’s contributions are remembered for their lyrical style and cultural significance within the Dutch choral tradition.

Born Eddie James House Jr. in the Mississippi Delta, he became a key figure in early Delta blues with his powerful vocals and innovative slide guitar. He recorded seminal tracks like "Preachin' Blues" and "Death Letter Blues" that influenced legends such as Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters. After years away from recording, he was rediscovered during the 1960s folk-blues revival and toured internationally. His emotive performances and distinct slide sound helped shape the sound of American roots music. He is considered one of the most influential blues musicians of the 20th century.

Nikos Skalkottas was born in Chalcis and showed talent as a violinist before studying composition at the Athens Conservatoire. He later studied under Arnold Schoenberg in Berlin, embracing atonal and twelve-tone techniques. His oeuvre includes orchestral works, chamber music, ballets, and the celebrated '36 Greek Dances', which blend folk themes with modernist structures. Largely overlooked during his lifetime in Greece, many of his works were published posthumously, leading to a revival of interest in his bold musical language. Skalkottas is now regarded as one of Greece's most innovative 20th-century composers.

André Filho was born Paulo César Pereira and emerged as a versatile musician in Rio de Janeiro's vibrant 1920s music scene. He composed and performed samba and choro, collaborating with artists like Carmen Miranda and Mário Reis. His works appeared in early Brazilian radio broadcasts and films, helping to popularize national musical styles. Known for his melodic inventiveness and lyrical sensitivity, he left a lasting mark on Brazilian popular music. His songs continue to be celebrated by samba musicians and historians of Brazilian culture.