German and French Song of the late 18th and 19th centuries

Mozart was a composer of the classical period and composed symphonic, chamber, choral, and operatic works. Concerning vocal compositions, he is best known for his operas, specifically those written in collaboration with Lorenzo Da Ponte, but he also composed songs in Italian, German, and French.

An influential musician of his time, and a part of the Second German school style of composition.

Known for his dramatic ballads in the style of traditional English and Scottish Ballads.

Joseph Haydn contributed to the evolution of song by composing songs in three staves instead of two. This allowed the role of the piano and of accompaniment to evolve.

As one of the most influential composers in history, Beethoven's music served as a transition from Classical Period's forms and styles into the height of the Romantic Period's development. His cycle, "An die ferne Gelibte," was the first of it's kind.

Eichendorff was a poet of the second german school, and his style was typical of the Romantic Period--nature, and man's state of existence being recurring themes.

Was known to have a beautiful voice as a child, and his father, who was also a musician, encouraged him to train in music. Jerome of Westvalia paid for his education in church music, keyboard, theory, and voice until he was 18.

Schubert composed over 900 songs in his lifetime, and his music influenced the compositional styles of Schumann, Brahms, and Mendelssohn.

Heine is one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. Druing his lifetime he worked as a writer and as a literary critic. His poetry was often set by Schubert and Schumann.

A french poet, writer, and dramaticist, Hugo is famous for his humanistic style. He was very active in the politics of his time, especially as he aged.

Berlioz is best known for his a French composer best known for his symphonic compositions, but also composed around 50 songs during his lifetime.

Moerike was a German Romantic poet, but he worked as a pastor for most of his life until in 1851, he left the position to become a teacher of German literature. His poetry is most famously set by Wolf.

In his early career, Schumann composed only for piano, but in 1840 began writing symphonic, choral, and chamber works as well. His first songs were composed at age 7, and he was a prolific song writer throughout his career. His wife, Clara, was also a popular composer and musician.

Franz Lizst was known as a child prodigy, having his first concerts at age 9. He was a famous pianist of his time and was influenced by Beethoven and Schubert. His compositional style was very showy, and his transcriptions demand an exceptional amount of skill. He was one of the first performers in history to include works of past composers in his programs, including Bach and Mozart.

Wagner is known for his development of tonality, and for his contributions to the development of opera. Yet, in his early career, to make money, he composed songs that were less innovative and inspired by the style of Franz Lizst.

One of the most notable French Romantic poets.

A popular, well-rounded musician, and pianist of her time, although, due to societal norms of the time, her work was mostly unrecognized until the late 20th century.

Brahms composed for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, and for voice and chorus. A virtuoso pianist, he premiered many of his own works; he worked with some of the leading performers of his time, including the pianist Clara Schumann and the violinist Joseph Joachim. Many of his works have become staples of the modern concert repertoire. Brahms, an uncompromising perfectionist, destroyed many of his works and left some of them unpublished. His style was innovative and yet traditional--using old classical forms, but composing melodies that were highly chromatic and that strayed from the traditional bounds of harmony.

Saint-Saens is famous in many generas of music, and was also known as a child prodigy, composing his first Romances before he was a teenager.

Bizet is known for his theatrical style and dramatic flair, while he did write Chanson, the drama that makes his opera so thrilling, never relaxes for music to be performed off the stage.

Chabrier was a part-time musician. He made his living as a civil servant, but composed and played the piano as well.

Massenet contributed significantly to the French melodie, composing in this style often. His songs are full of flair, and often have operatic elements to them.

Paul Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the "fin de siecle."

Faure is one of the most significant composers of French Artsong. Throughout his career he developed not only the style of Chanson, but the functionality of harmony as well. "Claire de Lune" and "Apres un Reve" are among his most famous pieces.

Duparc is best known for his 17 melodies with texts by poets such as Baudelaire, Gautier, Leconte de Lisle, and Goethe.

He was known to be high-minded and self critical. His music reflects the kind of melancholy mind-set he had. Chausson is thought to have died just as his career began to flourish.

A famous female composer

was a composer particularly noted for his contributions to lieder. He brought to this form a concentrated expressive intensity which was unique in late Romantic music.

Mahler is known for being the bridge between 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century.

His most significant works were on the operatic stage, but his song is also unique it it's grand and soaring style.

His style of composition is known for being simply beautiful and elegant. He composed mainly in the style of Melodie.