Top 10 list of Classical Musicians ( Part One )

This list does not include modern day composers that are alive today. It is not neccessarily in any order of personal preference.

~Music has been said to "sooth the savage beast." Research has shown that classical music can help students study more effectively, that is has a curative power that contributes to the healing process, and that plants can even have enhanced growth and development when exposed to Bach, Mozart, or Beethovan.

Johann Sebastian Bach- Just spend some time listening to his sacred and joyful compositions and you may agree that his music was divinely inspired! Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring and Brandenberg Concertos will take you there! When I want to transcend worldly circumstances and the stress of this life, I reach for any Bach CD I can get my hands on. In fact, my kids went to bed many a night listening to Bach. I also find his harpsichord pieces to be enchanting.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I am fascinated and in awe of musical prodigies! Mozart was composing by age five and his first symphonies were published by age eight. Eine Kleine Nacht Musik has always been one of my favorites along with his Requim Mass. I love his piano concertos as well! And certainly, not to go unmentioned are his operas, with The Marriage of Figaro and The Magic Flute being the most famous.

Ludwig van Beethovan -Any of us who play piano probably started practicing with two of Beethovan's well known pieces: Fur Elise and Moonlight Sonata. Intense; passionate; magnificent; - words that describe Beethovan. The fact that he was totally deaf when he composed the Ninth Symphony is another indication he was divinely gifted. Ode to Joy always make me want to dance!

Alesandro Scarlatti

Although I have never heard an arrangement played on accordian before, I think you can appreciate the beauty and giftedness of Scarlatti by this sample video. I had a wonderful record album back in the '70s that first introduced me to this composer. It had many compositons that were along the lines of Walter Carlos and his version of The WellTempered Clavichord. Again, Scarlatti's style is that of an Italian Baroque composer, and the pieces that I recall were light and quick moving (vivace.) Maybe it is because I share roots with Mr. Scarlatti, as he was born in Palermo, Sicily and the paternal side of my family comes from Palermo as well. His two sons Dominico and Pietro were also composers.

Peter Tchaikovsky

Today, I am just as big a Nutcracker Suite fan as I ever. How many of us remember going to the ballet or listening to this beautiful piece as kids? What is Christmas time without listening to it? And thanks to Mr. Disney, whenever I hear Dance of the Sugar Plum Fair, Waltz of the Flowers, Russian Dance, Arabian Dance, and Chinese Dance I still have vivid images of dancing mushrooms, dancing flowers, and magical faeiries in my head!