What do composers look like? When you think about classical composers , do you only think about Beethoven , Mozart , Stravinsky ? Yet the spectrum of classical composers covers a much broader range of cultures, ethnicities, ages, and genders, spanning over hundreds of years.  This video was created by the Listening to Ladies podcast series, an intriguing look at the amazing women who created some of our most cherished classical music as well as a look at the contemporary composers today that are breaking new ground in classical music. MORE GREAT CLASSICAL MUSIC http://listeningtoladies.com/news/ Listening to Ladies showcases women composers through online features, a concert series, and a podcast to be released in September 2016.  Learn more at: www.listeningtoladies.com This video features "The More Things Change" composed by Ingrid Stölzel.  Composers pictured:  Francesca Caccini Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre Barbara Strozzi Louise Farrenc ...

Graduale Aboense, hymn book of Turku, Finland. 14th-15th century. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) The church used to be the home to phenomenal classical music like Bach's cantatas, Gregorian Chant , and Handel 's oratorios. What happened? What changed church music from being great to being a set list of repetitive 7/11 songs? What have we lost?  As a musician of over two decades, I have performed numerous Easter cantatas, Christmas programs, and music specials both as a professional and as a church patron. In 2008 I wrote a prize-winning sacred oratorio, Creation. Though I would hate to say it, I have to admit that the overall quality of the contemporary church musical repertoire seems low, with songs and cantatas riding the line between unimaginative and silly. I am not questioning their effectiveness in their overall purpose, but musically these works pale in comparison with the incredible masterpieces of Bach, Handel, or even contemporary composers John Rutter and Eric...

Image via Wikipedia (Text in Large Print for Classroom Projection) Joseph Haydn Born in Austria in 1732 (lived till 1809). His father was an amateur musician who encouraged the young Hadyn to cultivate his obvious musical talents. Hadyn sang in the Cathedral of St. Stephen as a young boy until he reached puberty. Once he aged out of the choir, he struggled over the next decade to make ends meet. He taught lessons, performed, and eventually got a great gig with the famous Esterhazy family, a Hungarian family of nobles both powerful and extremely wealthy. Haydn 's position as composer was considered a servant position. He was employed by his patron and had to compose music that his patron wished, as well as manage the usual music director duties of conducting, teaching music, and basic music management . Haydn "Creation" The Heaven's Are Telling http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-Jkktpp9QI The Esterhazy family lived in a magnificent estate. There many palaces also had...