October 23

Born in 1654, Johann Bernhard Staudt became a noted composer of the Austrian Baroque era. He joined the Jesuit order and served as Kapellmeister at Jesuit colleges in Rome and Vienna. Staudt composed numerous Latin oratorios, masses, and devotional works for court and church ceremonies. His music blended the solemnity of liturgical tradition with the expressive richness of Baroque harmony. Although many of his compositions have been lost, he is remembered for enriching the musical life of the Habsburg monarchy.

Born in 1698 in Paris, Ange-Jacques Gabriel inherited his architectural lineage from his father, Jacques Gabriel. In 1742, he became principal architect to King Louis XV, overseeing major royal projects throughout France. His neoclassical designs include the École Militaire, the Petit Trianon at Versailles, and the eastern facade of the Louvre Palace. Gabriel’s work is celebrated for its elegance, harmony, and restrained ornamentation, setting a standard for French classical architecture. He died in 1782, leaving a lasting legacy that influenced generations of architects.

Born in 1801 in Berlin, Lortzing began his stage career as an actor and tenor in provincial theaters. His musical talents led him to compose his first opera at age 22, blending spoken dialogue with melodic numbers. Works like Zar und Zimmerman (Tsar and Carpenter) and Der Wildschütz (The Poacher) became staples of the German Romantic opera repertoire. Lortzing's wit, charm and naturalistic style endeared him to audiences across Europe. He died in 1851 while preparing a production in Leipzig, leaving behind a legacy of light-hearted operatic innovation.

Juan Luna de San Pedro (1857–1899) studied art in Europe and achieved fame when his painting 'Spoliarium' won a gold medal at the 1884 Madrid Exposition. His works blended classical European techniques with themes of Filipino identity and resistance against colonial rule. Luna collaborated with other reformists like José Rizal and contributed to the Propaganda Movement. As a sculptor, he produced monuments that adorned cities in Spain and the Philippines. Despite personal tragedies, his artistic legacy inspired national pride and remains central to Philippine art history.

Dominikus Böhm was born in 1880 in Jettingen, Germany and studied architecture with a focus on sacred buildings. He designed over sixty churches across Germany between the 1920s and 1950s, defining a new modernist approach to ecclesiastical architecture. Böhm’s work is noted for its expressive geometry, dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, and structural clarity. He also taught at the Düsseldorf Academy of Arts, shaping future generations of architects. His pioneering designs remain landmarks of 20th-century sacred architecture until his death in 1955.

Lawren Harris was born in 1885 in Brantford, Ontario and studied art in Chicago and Europe. In 1920 he co-founded the Group of Seven, advocating a new national style of Canadian painting. Harris’s early works captured the rugged beauty of Ontario, while later pieces abstracted Arctic landscapes with bold color and form. He served as principal of the Ontario College of Art, mentoring future Canadian artists. His visionary approach helped define Canada’s artistic identity until his death in 1970.

Born Rufus Perryman in 1892 near Columbus, Georgia, he performed under the name Speckled Red. An early pioneer of boogie-woogie piano, he recorded classics like The Dirty Dozens and Red’s Boogie-Woogie. His energetic playing style and raw vocal delivery helped popularize blues traditions across the United States. Rediscovered during the 1960s folk and blues revival, he released acclaimed late-career recordings. Speckled Red’s influence endures in the canon of American roots music after his death in 1973.

Richard Mortensen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910 and became a leading figure in Scandinavian abstract art. He was a member of the Linien group and later joined the international CoBrA movement, creating vibrant works characterized by bold colors and organic forms. Mortensen’s paintings explored the interplay between chaos and order, earning him exhibitions across Europe and the United States. As a professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, he mentored a generation of artists and wrote extensively on modern art theory. His contributions to both practice and education reshaped the Danish art scene in the mid-20th century. Mortensen’s work remains influential in the fields of abstraction and color theory. He died in 1993, leaving a rich artistic legacy.

Bob Montana was born in 1920 in New York City and developed a talent for drawing at a young age. In 1941, he co-created 'Archie Andrews' and defined the visual style of the Archie Comics universe. Montana worked on Archie Comics for over a decade, influencing the look of characters like Betty, Veronica, and Jughead. His clean, expressive artwork helped propel Archie to one of the bestselling comic titles of its time. Beyond Archie, Montana illustrated newspaper comic strips and advertising art. He balanced commercial success with a distinct, approachable drawing style that resonated with readers. Montana's contributions laid the groundwork for Archie's long-lasting pop culture impact. He died in 1975 but remains celebrated among comic book enthusiasts and historians.

Ned Rorem (1923–2022) was an American composer and diarist known for his lyrical art songs and musical versatility. Born in Richmond, Indiana, he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and spent time in Europe refining his craft. Rorem composed over 500 songs, along with orchestral, chamber, and choral works, earning a Pulitzer Prize for Air Music in 1976. He gained acclaim for his series of published diaries, which offered an unfiltered look into the life of a composer. Rorem also worked as a music critic and teacher, influencing a generation of musicians. His legacy remains central to 20th-century American classical music.

Sonny Criss (1927–1977) was an American jazz alto saxophonist and composer who emerged from the vibrant Los Angeles jazz scene. He developed a distinctive bebop voice marked by lyrical phrasing and rhythmic intensity. Criss recorded acclaimed albums for labels such as Prestige, Impulse!, and Muse throughout the 1950s and 1960s. His improvisations demonstrated both technical mastery and deep emotional expression, influencing future generations of saxophonists. Criss performed at major jazz clubs and festivals, leaving an indelible mark on West Coast jazz. He continued to record and perform until his untimely death in 1977.

Unto Mononen was a pioneering figure in Finnish tango, composing music that resonated with national sentiment. His masterpiece 'Satumaa' has become an emblematic Finnish tango, performed by generations of artists. Mononen studied violin and harmony, blending classical training with popular dance rhythms. Despite his talent, his life was marked by personal struggles, and he died young at 38. His legacy endures in Finland's musical heritage, inspiring tango festivals and modern reinterpretations. Mononen's work contributed to the golden era of Finnish tango and continues to captivate audiences.