September 05

Born on September 5, 1694, František Václav Míča was active at the Bohemian and Moravian courts as a composer and conductor. He composed several operas in Italian and Czech, showcasing the early development of Czech opera. Míča also wrote orchestral suites and sacred music, reflecting the rich Baroque traditions of Central Europe. As a court kapellmeister, he directed performances and trained musicians for noble patrons. His works were later overshadowed but revived in the 20th century during interest in Baroque music. Musicologists praise his craftsmanship and melodic inventiveness, which contribute to our understanding of regional Baroque styles. Míča died in 1744, leaving a modest but important musical legacy.

Born in Leipzig in 1735 as the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He studied in Italy under Padre Martini and honed his skills as a viol player. In 1762 he moved to London, where he served as music master to the queen's children. He composed operas, symphonies, chamber music, and keyboard works that defined the early Classical style. His elegant melodies and clear textures influenced contemporaries and inspired the young Mozart. He died in London in 1782, leaving a rich legacy that bridged the Baroque and Classical eras.

Born in 1774 in Greifswald, then part of Swedish Pomerania. He studied at the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts before returning to Germany. Friedrich became a leading figure of German Romanticism, focusing on nature’s spiritual dimension. His iconic works include 'The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog' and 'Monk by the Sea'. He often depicted solitary figures against sublime, mist-shrouded landscapes. Battling personal loss and depression, his later years and output dwindled. He died in 1840, but his influence on landscape painting endures worldwide.

Born in 1781 in Mattsee near Salzburg, Diabelli moved to Vienna to pursue music. He founded Diabelli Verlag, which became a leading European music publishing house. As a composer, he wrote waltzes, marches, and piano pieces popular in salons. In 1819 he commissioned composers to write variations on a waltz he composed. This project led to Beethoven’s monumental 'Diabelli Variations'. Diabelli published major works by Schubert, Beethoven, and other contemporaries. He died in 1858, leaving a lasting impact on music distribution and publishing.

Born in Berlin in 1791 into a wealthy Jewish banking family. He trained as a pianist and composer at the Paris Conservatoire. Settling in Paris, Meyerbeer became the leading figure of French Grand Opera. His masterpieces include 'Robert le diable', 'Les Huguenots', and 'Le prophète'. His operas were known for spectacular staging and dramatic orchestration. Later appointed director of the Berlin Opera, he influenced musical institutions. He died in 1864, leaving a legacy of dramatic innovation in Romantic opera.

Born in Genoa in 1827, Goffredo Mameli became a leading figure in the Risorgimento movement. At age 15, he published his first patriotic poems, advocating Italian unity and independence. In 1847, he penned the stirring lyrics of 'Il Canto degli Italiani', later adopted as Italy's national anthem. Mameli joined volunteer forces during the 1848 revolutions, fighting for Rome's Roman Republic. He suffered a fatal wound at the Battle of Rome in 1849 and died at just 21 years old. Despite his brief life, Mameli's poetry inspired generations in the struggle for Italian unification.

Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (September 5, 1867 – December 27, 1944) was a pioneering American composer and pianist. She achieved international acclaim with works such as the Gaelic Symphony, becoming the first woman in America to compose a symphony. Beach was a virtuoso pianist, giving numerous concerts and championing her own compositions. Her oeuvre spans songs, chamber music, choral works, and orchestral pieces. As a leading figure in the Boston musical scene, she helped pave the way for future generations of women composers. Beach's music combines Romantic expressiveness with early American themes.

Born in Budapest in 1892, Joseph Szigeti studied at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. He quickly gained a reputation for his lyrical style and intellectual approach to repertoire. Szigeti championed modern works, forging close collaborations with composers like Béla Bartók. He premiered and recorded many contemporary pieces, expanding the violin's repertoire. As an educator, he taught masterclasses worldwide and influenced generations of violinists. His scholarly writings on violin technique and interpretation remain valued resources. Szigeti passed away in 1973, leaving a legacy as one of the 20th century's leading violinists.

Born in 1904 in Brisbane, Vera Bradford studied piano under renowned teachers before embarking on an international performing career. She captivated audiences in Europe, North America, and Australia with her technically brilliant and emotionally nuanced playing. Bradford was a devoted educator, teaching at the Elder Conservatorium in Adelaide and mentoring generations of pianists. She championed contemporary Australian composers, premiering works by local writers. Throughout her career, she balanced performance, recording, and teaching with remarkable dedication. Bradford's legacy endures through her students and recordings before her passing in 2004.

Born in Canada in 1906 and later becoming an American citizen, Ralston Crawford studied art in Chicago and Paris. He is best known for his Precisionist paintings that depict factories, grain elevators, and urban architecture with geometric clarity. Crawford also worked as a photographer and lithographer, capturing industrial scenes along the Mississippi River. His art bridged realist observation and modernist abstraction, earning critical acclaim. He taught at Yale University and the University of California, influencing young artists. Crawford's work remains celebrated for its unique blend of industrial imagery and formal experimentation until his death in 1978.

Born in Mississippi in 1906, Albert Luandrew, known as Sunnyland Slim, moved to Chicago in the 1940s. His powerful piano playing and gravelly vocals became a hallmark of classic electric blues recordings. Slim worked with legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, helping to define the Chicago sound. He recorded dozens of tracks under his own name for major blues labels. A charismatic performer, he remained active in clubs and festivals into his eighties. Slim's contributions earned him a place among the most respected figures in blues history before his death in 1995.

Joaquín Nin-Culmell was a German-born pianist and composer who spent much of his career in the United States. Born in Berlin in 1908, he studied under renowned teachers and developed a distinctive compositional voice blending European classical traditions with Spanish influences. Nin-Culmell composed numerous works for piano, chamber ensembles, and film, and he performed widely as a concert pianist. He also devoted himself to teaching, holding positions at major American universities and nurturing the next generation of musicians. His compositions are noted for their lyrical melodies and refined craftsmanship. He passed away in Santa Barbara, California, in 2004.