Composer by surname P to S

Nicolo Paganini

Virtuoso violinist famed for astonishing performances, entirely from memory, of his own compositions

Lucy Pankhurst

Key composer for brass who aims to bring new sounds and styles of playing to the world of brass bands

Sir Hubert Parry

Inspired younger musicians in a revival of British music through his work as a composer and teacher

Arvo Pärt

Estonian composer whose unmistakable pure and meditative sound originates from chant music

Astor Piazzolla

Argentine composer who transformed tango music through collaborations with giants of the jazz world

Francis Poulenc

Fascinating composer whose sparkling music has come to symbolise the glittering heyday of Paris

Florence Price

Trailblazer who enriched traditional classical music with African rhythms and gospel harmonies

Sergei Prokofiev

Russian composer who spent many years away from his homeland, living in Paris and touring the world

Giacomo Puccini

Genius composer of operas popular for their tantalizing melodies and melodramatic stories

Henry Purcell

Composer of exceptional talent who wrote English songs for royal occasions and the theatre

Sergei Rachmaninov

Gifted pianist and composer of great originality whose music always captured the spirit of Russia

Maurice Ravel

20th Century pioneer influenced by the music of Russia, Spain and the American jazz

Ottorino Respighi

Famous Italian composer whose charming and expressive music reflected his cosmopolitan ideas

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Influential composer whose music full of exotic melodies took inspiration from Russian folklore

Joaquín Rodrigo

Celebrated composer who encapsulated the melodies, rhythms and spirit of Spain in his music

Gioachino Rossini

Greatest Italian composer of his time, whose imaginative ideas changed the way operas were written

Albert Roussel

French composer whose music was inspired by his travels to exotic and far flung places

Kareem Roustom

Syrian-American composer who unites western classical music with traditions of the Near East

Kaija Saariaho

Highly original Finnish composer with an unconventional approach and distinctive musical style

Camille Saint-Saëns

Gifted pianist and prolific composer who was inspired by the rich musical culture of North Africa

Rebecca Saunders

Original and distinctive composer focusing on the sound qualities of individual instruments

Domenico Scarlatti

Italian composer best known for his 555 keyboard sonatas developed from Spanish folk rhythms

Franz Schubert

Composer of astonishing originality and especially gifted writer of German songs

Clara Schumann

German composer and pianist of the Romantic era who had a long and distinguished career

Robert Schumann

German composer whose music was inspired by literature as well as the dramas of his own life

Alexander Scriabin

Freethinking Russian composer who broke with tradition and experimented with new musical ideas

Dmitri Shostakovich

Russian composer who wrote much of his dark and serious music under Stalin’s repressive regime

Jean Sibelius

Popular composer whose vivid and descriptive music was inspired by the landscapes of Finland

Dimitrios Skylass

Gifted contemporary composer whose music has been inspired by Greek tragedies and traditional hymns

Bedřich Smetana

Czech composer whose most famous works celebrate the culture and history of his beloved country

Susan Spain-Dunk

British composer whose popular chamber works were performed at the BBC Proms in the 1920s

Johann Strauss I

‘Father of the Waltz’ who was even invited to play for Queen Victoria’s coronation

Johann Strauss II

Legendary composer who elevated the humble waltz to thrilling new craze in Vienna and beyond

Richard Strauss

Unsurpassed master of songs who left a great legacy including operas and orchestra works too

Igor Stravinsky

Russian composer of exceptional talent and creativity who revolutionised 20th Century music

Josef Suk

Czech composer whose music developed from a traditional style to become more experimental

Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Dutch composer of the late Renaissance era best known for writing organ and keyboard music

Karol Szymanowski

Polish composer whose wanderlust for travel inspired much of his lush and colourful music

Composer by surname T to Z

From Tallis to Zemlinsky

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