September 16

Jacques Mauduit (1557–1627) was a key figure of the late French Renaissance, co-founding the Académie de musique et de poésie. He composed innovative madrigals, psalm settings, and courtly airs, blending poetic metrics with music. His work influenced the transition to early Baroque styles and left a durable mark on French sacred and secular repertoire.

Heinrich Bach (1615–1692), uncle of Johann Sebastian Bach, served as organist in Arnstadt and Schweinfurt. A master of chorale preludes and motets, he enriched Lutheran church music with his expressive compositions. His musical lineage influenced future generations, cementing the Bach family’s legacy in Western classical music.

Angelo Maria Amorevoli was an Italian tenor celebrated for his agile voice and dramatic stage presence. He debuted in Venice and quickly gained fame performing in opera houses across Italy, Germany, and Austria. His repertoire included works by composers such as Handel, Hasse, and Vivaldi. Amorevoli's rich timbre and emotive interpretations made him a favorite of patrons and fellow musicians alike. He also ventured into dramatic acting, showcasing his versatility on stage. His career spanned over five decades, during which he helped shape the baroque opera tradition in Europe.

Paul Taffanel was a French musician born in 1844, celebrated as one of the greatest flautists of his era. He served as principal flute at the Paris Opera and taught at the Conservatoire de Paris, where he reformed flute instruction. Taffanel authored the influential Méthode de flûte and established a repertoire that balanced classical works with contemporary compositions. As a conductor, he championed works by Berlioz and other Romantic composers, expanding orchestral programming. His teaching shaped generations of flautists, and his legacy endures in the continuing tradition of the French flute school.

Karl Albiker was born in 1878 in Waldshut, Germany. He studied sculpture and lithography in Karlsruhe and Munich, developing a style that combined realism with emotional depth. His works include several notable World War I memorials that honored fallen soldiers with poignant artistry. Albiker served as a professor at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts, mentoring a generation of young sculptors. He received recognition for his lithographic prints and public monuments. Throughout his career, he balanced his roles as artist and educator, leaving a lasting legacy in German art. Albiker passed away in 1961, remembered for his contributions to sculpture and art education.

Jean Arp was born in 1886 in Strasbourg, then part of the German Empire, to a French mother and German father. He co-founded the Dada movement in Zurich in 1916, embracing chance and abstraction as artistic principles. Arp’s early works include collages and woodcuts that rejected conventional aesthetics and social norms. He later transitioned to sculpture, creating biomorphic forms that evoked organic life and dreamlike landscapes. Arp was closely associated with Surrealism in Paris, exhibiting alongside artists like André Breton and Salvador Dalí. Throughout his career, he also produced poetry and wrote critical essays on art theory. His works are held in major museums worldwide, celebrated for their inventive shapes and poetic resonance. Jean Arp died in 1966, leaving a lasting impact on modern art.

Nadia Boulanger was born in Paris in 1887 into a musical family, with her sister Lili also a noted composer. Boulanger won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1908, launching her career as a composer. She soon turned to teaching, accepting students at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau and later at the Paris Conservatory. Her pupils included Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Quincy Jones, and Astor Piazzolla, among many others. Boulanger was also the first woman to conduct major orchestras such as the Boston Symphony and the London Philharmonic. She championed contemporary composers and was known for her rigorous standards and deep musical insight. Throughout her life, she refused many composition commissions to focus on education and scholarship. Nadia Boulanger passed away in 1979, remembered as one of the most influential music educators of the 20th century.

Milton 'Milt' Franklyn was an American composer and arranger who rose to prominence at Warner Bros. in the 1940s and 1950s. Serving as musical director for the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons, he crafted iconic themes for characters such as Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. Initially joining the studio as a pianist and orchestrator, he succeeded Carl Stalling in 1954 and continued to innovate cartoon scoring. Franklyn's vibrant orchestrations and sense of comedic timing became hallmarks of the golden age of animation. His contributions remain celebrated by fans and musicians alike. He worked in animation music until his death in 1962.

Hans Swarowsky was born in Vienna in 1899 and studied under composers such as Richard Strauss and Arnold Schoenberg. Beginning his career as an opera conductor, he later became a professor at the Vienna Music Academy, where his rigorous teaching shaped conductors like Claudio Abbado, Zubin Mehta, and Mariss Jansons. As a guest conductor, he led major orchestras across Europe, earning acclaim for his insightful interpretations of works by Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms. Swarowsky also authored theoretical texts on conducting technique and musical analysis. His dual legacy as a performer and educator deeply influenced the course of modern classical music. He died in Vienna in 1975.

He served as the house pianist at famed nightclubs like the Stork Club and the Blue Angel. Walter accompanied many celebrated vocalists and was admired for his elegant accompaniment style. He recorded solo and duo albums, showcasing his versatility across genres from ragtime to bebop. As a composer and arranger, he contributed music to Broadway productions and radio programs. His influence on American lounge and cocktail piano playing remains recognized by musicians and historians.

Subbulakshmi’s debut performance at the Madras Music Academy in 1935 launched her into stardom. She became the first Indian musician to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in 1966. Her recordings of devotional music and film songs reached audiences worldwide, popularizing Carnatic music. Subbulakshmi was a cultural ambassador, touring Europe, Asia, and North America to promote Indian music. She received numerous awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award and Padma Vibhushan, before her death in 2004.

Władysław Kędra was one of Poland's foremost pianists, admired for his technical precision and lyrical expressiveness. A graduate of the Warsaw Conservatory, he performed in concert halls across Europe, earning acclaim for his Chopin recordings. Kędra's style combined deep musical insight with virtuosic flair, making him a sought-after recitalist and recording artist. He also dedicated himself to teaching at the conservatory, inspiring a new generation of pianists. His recordings remain benchmarks of Romantic piano performance.