September 25

Born in 1599 in Bissone (now in Switzerland), Francesco Borromini moved to Rome to apprentice under Carlo Maderno. He developed a distinctive Baroque style characterized by dynamic curves and complex geometries. Borromini's masterpiece, San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, showcases his innovative use of concave and convex forms. He also designed the elegant facades of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Piazza Navona. His work on the Palazzo Barberini and other projects influenced generations of architects. Despite his artistic achievements, Borromini struggled with financial difficulties and mental health issues. He died by suicide in 1667, leaving a legacy as one of the most inventive architects of the Baroque era.

Johann Nikolaus Hanff was born in 1663 in Hamburg and trained as an organist. He served as court musician and organist at Gottorf Castle in Schleswig. Hanff composed a small but influential body of sacred chorales and organ pieces. His lyrical style and melodic invention influenced later composers, including J.S. Bach. He published several collections of spiritual songs and instrumental works. Hanff's music is noted for its emotional depth and clear harmonic language. He died in 1711, leaving a legacy in the early German Baroque musical tradition.

Jean-Philippe Rameau was born in 1683 in Dijon and became one of France's leading composers. He published the groundbreaking Traité de l'harmonie in 1722, establishing modern tonal theory. Rameau composed numerous operas, including Hippolyte et Aricie and Les Indes galantes. His keyboard works, such as the Pièces de Clavecin, display inventive harmony and ornamentation. Rameau served as organist for various French cathedrals before focusing on opera in Paris. His theoretical writings and compositions had a profound influence on Western music. He died in 1764, remembered as a towering figure of the Baroque era.

Born in Bechyně, Bohemia, Pichl received early violin training before serving in the court orchestra at Vienna. He composed symphonies, concertos, and chamber music, often blending Bohemian folk influences with Classical styles. Pichl was appointed director of music for the wealthy court of Archbishop Colloredo in Salzburg. His publications of violin concertos and string quartets were widely performed across Europe during his lifetime. He collaborated with prominent musicians of the era and contributed to the development of chamber ensemble repertoire. Pichl's works are praised for their melodic charm, technical mastery, and elegant orchestration.

Born in Vienna, Auernhammer was recognized as a child prodigy on the piano and later became a prominent performer in Viennese salons. She studied under Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who dedicated two piano concertos to her and praised her technique. Auernhammer composed piano sonatas, variations, and dances that were published and performed in leading musical circles. Her virtuosic playing and compositional skill earned her praise from contemporaries and royal patrons. Although some of her works have been lost, her surviving compositions reflect Classical-era elegance and innovation. Auernhammer's contributions highlight the role of women musicians in 18th-century Vienna's cultural life.

Léon Boëllmann was a French composer and organist of the Romantic era. He studied at the École César Franck and served as organist at the Basilica of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in Paris. His most famous work, the "Suite Gothique", remains a staple of the organ repertoire, showcasing dramatic harmonies and lyrical melodies. Boëllmann composed choral works, chamber music, and tunes for piano, blending traditional forms with modern sensibilities. He supported younger musicians as a teacher and editor for G. Schirmer. His premature death at 35 cut short a promising career but his music continues to influence organists worldwide.

Henri Lebasque was a French artist associated with the Post-Impressionist movement. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and later worked alongside members of the Nabis group. Lebasque’s paintings often depict tranquil scenes of domestic life, sunlit gardens, and Mediterranean landscapes with bright, harmonious colors. He exhibited regularly at the Salon d’Automne and influenced the development of modern French painting through his teaching and writings on color theory. Lebasque traveled extensively in southern France, capturing the region’s light and atmosphere in his work. His legacy endures in museum collections worldwide and in his contributions to early 20th-century art education.

Adolf Bolm was a Russian ballet dancer and choreographer who played a pivotal role in spreading ballet across Europe and the United States. Trained at the Maryinsky Theatre, he danced with the Ballets Russes and worked alongside Sergei Diaghilev. Bolm formed his own dance companies and staged works in Berlin and Paris before emigrating to America in the 1910s. He introduced innovative choreography and helped establish the San Francisco Opera Ballet. Bolm's efforts laid the groundwork for the development of professional ballet companies in the US. His artistic vision influenced the evolution of dance in the early 20th century.

Born in Odessa, Brackman emigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. He became renowned for his detailed portraiture and impressionistic still life paintings. As a longtime instructor at the Art Students League of New York, he influenced many young artists. His work is celebrated for its elegant brushwork and perceptive character studies. He exhibited widely and published instructional art books during his career. Brackman died in 1980, leaving behind a legacy as both an artist and teacher.

Born in Tamil Nadu, Narayana Kavi became a pioneering lyricist for Tamil films in the 1930s and 1940s. He wrote hundreds of songs that blended classical poetic forms with popular melodies. His lyrics often celebrate devotion, nature, and human emotions with lyrical elegance. He collaborated with leading composers of his time, shaping the golden era of Tamil cinema music. His work influenced generations of songwriters and remains popular in Tamil cultural history. He passed away in 1981, remembered as a master of Tamil poetic songwriting.

Born in Dvinsk (now Daugavpils, Latvia), Rothko emigrated to the United States in 1913. He became a leading figure in Abstract Expressionism with his signature rectangular color fields. Rothko's work aimed to evoke emotion through luminous layers of pigment. His most famous installations include the Seagram Murals and the Rothko Chapel. He taught and mentored young artists, shaping postwar American art. Rothko died in 1970, and his paintings continue to influence contemporary art worldwide.

Born in Dzērbene, Latvia, Dārziņš studied at the Latvian Conservatory post-World War I. He composed orchestral, chamber, and solo piano works that blend national folk elements with modern harmonies. As a critic, he wrote influential essays on music and championed Latvian composers. He also performed as a concert pianist throughout Europe. Dārziņš taught composition and piano, fostering Latvia's musical development. He died in 1962, remembered as a vital figure in 20th-century Latvian music.