1. Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)- Maurice Ravel was born on March 7, 1875 in Ciboure, France. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire at age 14 and studied piano and composition with Gabriel Faure. His major works include Le Tombeau de Couperin, a suite composed for piano, the orchestral pieces Rapsodie espagnole and Bolero. In 1899, he composed Pavane pour une infante defunte (Pavane for a Dead Princess), the solo piano piece and one of the most beautiful pieces in my opinion, Jeux d'eau (Fountains or water music) and Sonatine for solo piano, Miroirs and Gaspard de la nuit. He is also known for composing the ballet Daphnis et Chloe, completed in 1912. In 1920, he composed a ballet and concert work called La Valse. He died in Paris, France in December 28, 1937. Today, he is regarded as one of the best French composers of the 20th century and I think his music is described as impressionist and heartfelt.
2. Aaron Copland (1900-1990)- Aaron Copland was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 14, 1900. He was the youngest of five children and received advice from his older sister at a young age in piano and composition. Some of his most famous works include Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, Piano Variations, The Dance Symphony and A Lincoln Portrait. He also was a writer and published books called What to Listen for in Music, Our New Music and Music and Imagination. He died on December 2, 1990 in North Tarrytown, New York. He was one of the greatest American composers of the 20th century.
3. Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)- Known for composing The Rite of Spring and Symphony in C, Igor Stravinsky was one of the most influential Russian composers of the 20th century. He was born in Oranienbaum, Russia on June 17, 1882. He studied with Nikolai-Rimsky Korsakov and composed works in the 1930s called Symphony of Psalms, Persephone, Jeu de Cartes and Concerto in E flat. He became a U.S citizen in 1945 and moved to Los Angeles creating operas like Agon and The Rake's Progress. He died in Manhattan on April 6, 1971.
4. Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)- A Russian Composer, known mostly for his symphonies and chamber works, was born on September 25, 1906 in St. Petersburg and was educated at the Petrograd Conservancy. He died in Moscow, Russia on August 9, 1975. He also has a book of twenty-four Preludes and Fugues for technical study.
5. George Gershwin (1898-1937)- Gershwin was one of the most significant composers in the 20th century known for classical compositions and popular films. His most popular work is Rhapsody in Blue and the Three Preludes for Piano. He wrote numerous songs for stage called Let's call the whole thing off, Embraceable You, They can't take that away from you and many more. In the 1920s, he composed a jazz-orchestral composition called An American Paris. Along with Rhapsody in Blue was his most successor, Porgy and Bess. In 1937, he was trying to receive treatment for his headaches and it turned out he had a malignant brain tumor. He died at the age of 38 during surgery.
These are my top 5 favorite composers of the modern era. Each composer had a special place in the 20th century.
