September 18

Born in Florence in 1587 to a family of musicians and court artists. She served the Medici court as a virtuosic singer and prolific composer. Her opera 'La liberazione di Ruggiero' (1625) is one of the first operas by a woman. Caccini published collections of songs for voice and continuo, showcasing her Baroque style. She contributed to the development of Italian opera and influenced later female composers.

Johann Gottfried Walther (1684–1748) excelled as an organist and composer in the Baroque era. He served as organist at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig alongside J.S. Bach. An accomplished theorist, he compiled the Musikalisches Lexicon, an early encyclopedia of music. His organ compositions and chorale preludes influenced German sacred music. Walther's writings provided valuable insights into Baroque performance practice. His work bridged musical scholarship and composition, shaping future generations.

Ignaz Holzbauer (1711–1783) was a prominent composer of the early Classical period in Austria. He composed operas, symphonies, and chamber music characterized by melodic inventiveness. As a teacher at the Court Chapel in Stuttgart, he influenced a generation of German musicians. His opera Günther von Schwarzburg was celebrated for its dramatic orchestration. Holzbauer's symphonies foreshadowed the style of Haydn and Mozart. His educational efforts and compositions contributed to the flourishing of 18th-century music.

Born in Zaandam in 1838, Anton Mauve emerged as a key figure of the Hague School, painting scenes of rural life in subdued colors. He specialized in depictions of farmers, shepherds, and flocks of sheep against Dutch meadows and waterways. Mauve's naturalistic style and attention to light influenced contemporaries and later impressionists. He taught at the Royal Academy in The Hague, shaping a generation of Dutch artists. Mauve was an early mentor and relative by marriage to Vincent van Gogh, whose work he both inspired and critiqued. His works were exhibited nationally before his death in 1888 and remain celebrated for their quiet beauty.

Born in 1844 in Antwerp, New York, Cassius Marcellus Coolidge began his career as a commercial artist, creating illustrations for magazines. In the early 1900s, he produced his most famous series of paintings depicting dogs seated around a poker table commissioned by Brown & Bigelow. These humorous works became iconic symbols of Americana and have been widely reproduced and parodied. Coolidge also created advertising art and other genre scenes featuring animal characters in human roles. His distinctive style blended realism with humor, capturing Victorian and Edwardian social pastimes. Coolidge continued to paint and receive commissions until his death in 1934, leaving a lasting legacy in pop culture.

Born Benjamin Henry Jesse Francis Shepard in London in 1848, Francis Grierson emigrated to the United States in 1871 and adopted his pen name. He gained fame in New York for his impromptu piano recitals and mystical musical improvisations at the Waldorf-Astoria's salon. Grierson composed character pieces inspired by literature, such as his "Dickens Fantasia" and "Shakespeare Rhapsody." He hosted gatherings that attracted prominent writers and artists, including Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, and James McNeill Whistler. Grierson authored essays and mystical writings on music and spirituality, reflecting his eccentric personality. He remained a fixture of international artistic circles until his death in 1927.

Alberto Franchetti was an Italian composer and educator whose operatic works epitomized the late-Romantic verismo style. His notable operas, including 'Cristoforo Colombo' and 'Germania', were praised for their dramatic intensity and colorful orchestration. Franchetti served as a professor of composition at the Parma Conservatory, mentoring future generations of Italian musicians. He synthesized Italian melodic tradition with broader European influences, creating a distinctive voice in turn-of-the-century opera. Born in Turin in 1860, he remained active in musical circles until his death in 1942, leaving a lasting impact on the operatic repertoire.

Carl Friedberg was a distinguished pianist whose artistry bridged German and Italian musical traditions. A protégé of Clara Schumann, he earned acclaim for his nuanced performances of Beethoven, Brahms, and Schumann. Friedberg held teaching positions at prestigious conservatories across Europe and later in the United States, where he influenced generations of pianists. He published scholarly editions of classical piano works and left a legacy of recordings valued for their intimate musical insight. Born in Germany in 1872, he maintained an active performance and teaching career until his death in 1955.

Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson, 14th Baron Berners, was an English nobleman whose creative flair spanned music, visual art, and literature. Born in 1883, he composed avant-garde chamber works and small-scale operettas, often featuring playful motifs and modernist influences. As a painter, he produced vivid watercolors reflecting his love of travel and luxury. Berners also wrote satirical short stories and memoirs that captured his flamboyant lifestyle and social commentary. A famed eccentric, he kept peacocks on his Norfolk estate and was noted for his extravagant fashion. He died in 1950, leaving a unique artistic legacy that continues to fascinate.

Uzeyir Hajibeyov (1885–1948) was a groundbreaking Azerbaijani composer, conductor, and playwright. He created the first Azerbaijani opera, "Leyli and Majnun", in 1908, blending traditional mugham with Western classical forms. Hajibeyov studied music in Russia and brought European techniques back to Baku, establishing modern music education in Azerbaijan. He composed orchestral works, choral pieces, and stage music that reflect national themes and folklore. As a playwright, he wrote operettas and stage works that remain part of the Azerbaijani cultural repertoire. Beyond composition, he was an active music critic and cultural advocate, shaping his nation's artistic identity. Today he is celebrated as the father of Azerbaijani classical music, and his works continue to be performed around the world.

Arthur Leslie Benjamin (1893–1960) was an Australian-born pianist, composer, and conductor who made his career in Britain. He studied with Sir Donald Tovey before establishing himself as a performer and teacher in London. Benjamin's most famous composition, "Jamaican Rumba", showcases his talent for blending Caribbean rhythms with classical forms. He conducted chamber ensembles and broadcast orchestras, championing contemporary music. As a professor at the Royal College of Music, he influenced a generation of British musicians. His body of work includes solo piano pieces, chamber music, and orchestral suites still performed today. Benjamin's fusion of folk influences and concert traditions made him a distinctive voice in 20th-century music.

Pablo Sorozábal was a leading figure in 20th-century Spanish music, celebrated for his contributions to the zarzuela genre. His works, including "La del manojo de rosas," remain staples in Spanish theaters. As a conductor, he led orchestras across Europe, advocating for contemporary composers and Spanish musical traditions. Sorozábal’s style blended folkloric melodies with modern harmonies, giving his pieces enduring popularity. He also taught composition and mentored a generation of Spanish musicians. His legacy is honored by festivals and recordings worldwide.