In a world without recorded music, talent with an instrument was a valuable gift. But even more admired were the people who actually composed the music others would play; those so endowed could aspire to attain unending renown...and if not, at least a lucrative career.
a Czech composer, violinist and organist. Although he was a gifted and versatile composer capable of writing both in Baroque and Classical idioms, his eccentric personality led to numerous conflicts and lack of steady employment from about 1756 onwards.
an Italian composer best remembered for his opera Ulisse all'isola di Circe performed in Brussels in 1650, which was the first opera performed in the low countries, at the time part of the Spanish ruled Southern Netherlands. Zamponi was born in Rome, and was the organist at Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, then known as San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, in Rome's P...
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an Italian composer best remembered for his opera Ulisse all'isola di Circe performed in Brussels in 1650, which was the first opera performed in the low countries, at the time part of the Spanish ruled Southern Netherlands. Zamponi was born in Rome, and was the organist at Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore, then known as San Giacomo degli Spagnoli, in Rome's Piazza Navona, from 1629-1638, substituting for Paolo Tarditi (c.1580-1661).
an Italian violin teacher, composer of the Baroque, who lived and worked in Milan. Information about Gasparo Zanetti's life is limited to his known works. In 1626 he published a two-part version of an original three-part canzone by Rivolta. Zanetti became known for his important legacy, compiled by him in a work for violin students which he published in 1645...
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an Italian violin teacher, composer of the Baroque, who lived and worked in Milan. Information about Gasparo Zanetti's life is limited to his known works. In 1626 he published a two-part version of an original three-part canzone by Rivolta. Zanetti became known for his important legacy, compiled by him in a work for violin students which he published in 1645 with Carlo Camagno in Milan.
an Italian violinist and composer. Zani's works show the influence of Antonio Vivaldi, but are somewhat less sweeping. His op. 2, published in 1729, is of great historical importance because it is the earliest dated source of symphonies that present no ambiguit...
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an Italian violinist and composer. Zani's works show the influence of Antonio Vivaldi, but are somewhat less sweeping. His op. 2, published in 1729, is of great historical importance because it is the earliest dated source of symphonies that present no ambiguities of genre. His late works clearly exhibit a casting off of baroque elements in favor of early classical ones.
an Italian cellist and composer who lived most of his adult life in The Hague, the Netherlands. He was highly regarded for his virtuoso cello playing and his compositions were published and distributed throughout Europe. Zappa was of importance to the musical life of the Netherlands, and made substantial contributions to the quality, vibrancy and internation...
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an Italian cellist and composer who lived most of his adult life in The Hague, the Netherlands. He was highly regarded for his virtuoso cello playing and his compositions were published and distributed throughout Europe. Zappa was of importance to the musical life of the Netherlands, and made substantial contributions to the quality, vibrancy and international outlook of The Hague's 18th-century music scene as a performer, composer, concert organiser and teacher.
an Italian music theorist and composer of the Renaissance. He was possibly the most famous European music theorist between Aristoxenus and Rameau, and made a large contribution to the theory of counterpoint as well as to musical tuning.
a Czech composer and musician of the Baroque period. His music is admired for its harmonic inventiveness and counterpoint. Zelenka's pieces are characterized by very daring compositional structure, with a highly spirited harmonic invention and perfection of the art of counterpoint. His works are often virtuosic and difficult to perform, but always fresh and ...
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a Czech composer and musician of the Baroque period. His music is admired for its harmonic inventiveness and counterpoint. Zelenka's pieces are characterized by very daring compositional structure, with a highly spirited harmonic invention and perfection of the art of counterpoint. His works are often virtuosic and difficult to perform, but always fresh and surprising, with sudden turns of harmony, being always a challenge for their interpreters.
a German composer, conductor and teacher of music. Working in his father's bricklaying business, Zelter attained mastership in that profession, and was a musical autodidact.
a Silesian-born composer and contemporary of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Zimmermann spent most of his career in Bratislava, then capital of H...
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a Silesian-born composer and contemporary of Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Zimmermann spent most of his career in Bratislava, then capital of Hungary, where he worked as a composer, violinist, conductor, and artist manager.
an Italian composer, chiefly of opera. Zingarelli wrote 37 mainly comic operas in all in a prolific career. Between 1785 and 1803 he wrote mainly for La Scala of Milan, the first to be produced here being Alsinda.
an Italian Baroque composer who worked and died in Córdoba (Argentina). He became a Jesuit in order to work in the Reductions of Paraguay where his musical expertise contributed to develop the natural musical talents of the Guaranis. He is remembered as the most accomplished musician among Jesuit missionaries.
a Russian composer and concert singer, known for her folksongs. She was born in Saint Petersburg. Zubova wrote poems and songs, of which some were published in Saint Petersburg in 1770. She was known for her performances as a singer at private concerts and described as: "The best singer in the early reign of Catherine II."
an Italian composer and violinist of the late Baroque and early classical; he worked mainly in Milan, Olomouc and London. He became director of the "Accademia Filarmonica Milanese", leaving in 1765 a collection of trio sonatas in print. Otherwise, few of his compositions remain.
perhaps the most famous Mexican composer of the colonial period of New Spain. His music was the culmination of the Baroque style in the New World. He was the first person in the western hemisphere to compose an Italian-texted opera, entitled Partenope (now lost).
a German choir conductor, songwriter, composer, and pianist. She was born and died in Stuttgart. Her father was composer Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg. She showed a facility at sight-reading and cultivated a circle of talented musicians. Her compositions incl...
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a German choir conductor, songwriter, composer, and pianist. She was born and died in Stuttgart. Her father was composer Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg. She showed a facility at sight-reading and cultivated a circle of talented musicians. Her compositions include an overture, piano-pieces, and three polonaises. She was perhaps best known for her songs, which became popular in her homeland and beyond.
a German composer and conductor. He also was a prolific composer of lieder and ballads. His ballads had a great influence on the young Franz Schubert, who imitated a number of Zumsteeg's as studies (some even in exactly the same keys) while he was a teenager.
