Why did Germany have the most classical composers of music?

Question

Were most during the Enlightenment period?
How did most people listen to them?

Answer 1

The only answer is based on the two biggest deutsche Dichter Johann Wolfgang von Goethe & Friedrich Schiller in the 18th Century.

In fact Deutschland has reached its classical golden period at that time with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe & Friedrich Schiller.
It was based on the golden periode of the classical literature, which these both gentlemen had very immense influences in that classical literature periode.

Goethe had influenced the classical music very much, Beethoven for instance was his huge admirer. Goethe wrote the text or libretti for the Mozarts Opera "Don Giovanni in 1791".

Do not forget Austria either: Die Wiener Klassiker ist dort geboren. Mozart, Schubert, Haydn were Austrian Composers, not German.

Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland

Answer 2

It didn't...France and England had composers as well.

Music for the common man was usually a string trio quartet or quintet === violin, viola, cello or two of the first one or both of the higher strings. Often a flute was added or an oboe. They were often performed in churches, or if wealthy people were the patrons of these composers, at those people's homes. Opera was for the masses, just as rock concerts are now... and the more extravagant, the better with costumes, animals on stage and the like.... google music history+opera, or + symphonies or + quartets or individuals as Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Liszt etc.

Answer 3

They didn't. Austria probably had more - think of Haydn and Mozart and 100s of minor composers like them. Then there were many composers in Italy. I doubt if any one country had more than any other - even though it seems like that in the romantic period in the 19th century when all composers appear to be German - but even that is a fallacy. In the enlightenment many composers. like Haydn at Esterhazy or Mozart at Salzburg, worked for wealthy patrons and were a part of their household - one of the servants. A few concerts were given - such as in the Hanover Rooms in London.

Answer 4

The distinction between Germany and Austria is unhistorical. Austria was part of Germany until 1866. Mozart et al were Germans and would have regarded themselves as such. As to the question - maybe it was the number of small princely courts offering patronage? Or the lack of political life in the period?

Answer 5

Saint-Saens is pretty well known u know. About the same amount as Rachmaninoff. Unless that's too famous, Rachmaninoff would be my choice. his concerto no 2, symphony no 2 and his moment musiceaux nos 4 and 6. are my favorites. And most of my favorite composers are really well known, i. e. CHopin, Beethoven.

Answer 6

Please don't include Austria in any answers to this question - that's how all the trouble started in the first place!

No, seriously, I think it's probably all to do with timing! You will have to elucidate on the Enlightenment period and most people listened to them with their sense of hearing.

Answer 7

I dont know, but everytime i listen to Wagner, i get the urge to invade Poland"

Answer 8

despite the fact that we germans are tarnished into eternity with the austrian hitler and the nazi era and all that evolved and stemmed from it, we are still the nation of scholars, thinkers and scholars, and we do apreciate all the good things in life inclusive music