Sergei Rachmaninoff initially wanted to be a composer, but he had to rely on his abilities as a pianist  to make a living after he left ...

 Niccolo Paganini wrote his first violin concerto in 1817-1818 and the solo part shows that his dazzling technique was already in evidenc...

 Felix Mendelssohn musical precociousness was apparently comparable to Mozart's, but unlike Mozart he was fortunate enough to be born i...

Friedrich Kalkbrenner is a name run across whenever early 19th century pianists are discussed. He was German, evidently a charismatic p...

 In 19th century musical life, the region of Germany and Austria reigned supreme.  For those ambitious enough to want international recog...

The 2nd piano concerto by   Johannes Brahms stands in marked contrast to his first piano concerto, written 22 years previously, not leas...

Beethoven's sketchbooks show that he was a very self-critical composer.  Ideas came readily to him,but he was never satisfied with the...