German Composers

German Composers

Apple Music Classical

To many, Germany (along with Austria) is the home of classical music, and there’s no denying how fundamental German composers and musicians were in the evolution of Western music, expanding and refining just about every form they touched. You’ll find lots to explore here—whether you consider yourself an expert or just a fan of “the three Bs” (Bach, Beethoven and Brahms).

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 · “Fate Symphony”
I. Allegro con brio
Carlos Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic
Richard Wagner
Die Walküre, WWV 86B · “The Ring Cycle”
Hojotoho! Heiaha! (Ride of the Valkyries) [Edit / Remastered 2022]
Brigitte Fassbaender, Helga Dernesch, Vera Schlosser, Vera Little, Berit Lindholm, Vienna Philharmonic, Claudia Hellmann, Georg Solti, Marilyn Tyler, Helen Watts
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
I. Prélude
Pierre Fournier
Johann Sebastian Bach
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Aria
Hannes Minnaar
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90
III. Poco allegretto
Herbert Blomstedt, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig
Johannes Brahms
21 Hungarian Dances, WoO 1
No. 1 in G Minor. Allegro molto (Orchestrated by Brahms)
Vienna Philharmonic, Claudio Abbado
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 · “Rhenish”
I. Lebhaft
Sergiu Celibidache, Munich Philharmonic
Robert Schumann
Dichterliebe, Op. 48
No. 1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
Hubert Giesen, Fritz Wunderlich
Felix Mendelssohn
Elijah, Op. 70 · “Elias”
No. 2 Duett Mit Chor. Das Volk, Zwei Frauen "Herr, Höre Unser Gebet!"
La Chapelle Royale, Orchestre des Champs-Elysées, Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent
Johann Sebastian Bach
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Nr.68. Chorus I & II "Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder"
Raphaël Pichon, Pygmalion
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58
I. Allegro moderato
Colin Davis, Claudio Arrau, Staatskapelle Dresden
Fanny Mendelssohn
Piano Trio, Op. 11
I. Allegro molto vivace
Trio Chausson
Tietz: 6 String Quartets, Op. 1
No. 6 In e Flat Major: III. Romance
Hoffmeister Quartet
Georg Philipp Telemann
Quartet in G Major, TWV 43:G2 · “Musique de table”
Quatour in G Major: II. Vivace - Moderato - Vivace D.c.
Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel
Georg Philipp Telemann
Der für die Sünden der Welt gemarterte und sterbende Jesus, TWV 5:1 · “Brockes Passion”
I. Teil: 16. Arie (Jesus) "Mein Vater!" / ... / 18. Arie (Jesus) "Ist's Möglich, Daß Dein Zorn Sich Stille"
Johannes Weisser, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs
Ludwig van Beethoven
Bagatelle in A Minor, WoO 59 · “Für Elise”
Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, WoO 59 "Für Elise"
Lang Lang
Johannes Brahms
16 Waltzes, Op. 39
No. 15 in A-Flat Major
İdil Biret
George Frideric Handel
Suite in G Minor, HWV 452
I. Allemande
Keith Jarrett
George Frideric Handel
Concerto Grosso No. 4 in F Major, HWV 315, Op. 3/4
I. Andante
Van Diemen’s Band, Martin Gester
Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048
I. —
Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano
Pisendel: Violin Concerto in D Major, Jung I.7,c
I. Vivace
Concerto Köln, Mayumi Hirasaki
Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64
I. Allegro molto appassionato
Itzhak Perlman, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink
Johannes Brahms
Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op. 115
1. Allegro
Karl Leister, Amadeus Quartet
Richard Wagner
Die Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D · “The Ring Cycle”
Prelude
Henry Schuman, Leopold Stokowski, Symphony of the Air
Richard Wagner
Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90 · “Tristan and Isolde”
"Mild und leise wie er lächelt"
Daniel Barenboim, Waltraud Meier, Berlin Philharmonic
Richard Strauss
Vier letzte Lieder, AV 150, Op. 150, TrV 296 · “Four Last Songs”
IV. Im Abendrot
Kurt Masur, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Jessye Norman
Johann Pachelbel
Canon and Gigue in D Major, P. 37
Canon in D
Edward Brewer, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Dittersdorf: Sinfonia No. 3 in G Major "Verwandlung Aktaons in einen Hirsch"
II. Adagio (Piu tosto andantino)
Hanspeter Gmür, Budapest Failoni Chamber Orchestra
Carl Stamitz
Symphony in E-Flat Major, Op. 9/6
Andante moderato
Franzjosef Maier, θollegium Aʊreum
G. P. Telemann: Concerto for 3 Trumpets and Timpani in D Major, TWV 54:D3
II. Allegro
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
George Frideric Handel
Suite No. 1 in F Major, HWV 348 · “Water Music No. 1”
I. Ouverture. Grave - Allegro
Elizabeth Wilcock, Trevor Pinnock, Simon Standage, The English Concert
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 · “Choral Symphony”
I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Carlo Maria Giulini, Berlin Philharmonic
Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15
II. Adagio
Daniel Barenboim, Philharmonia Orchestra, John Barbirolli
Robert Schumann
Waldszenen, Op. 82 · “Forest Scenes”
VII. Vogel als Prophet
Wilhelm Kempff
Robert Schumann
Kinderszenen, Op. 15 · “Scenes from Childhood”
VII. Träumerei
Martha Argerich
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27/2 · “Moonlight Sonata”
1. Adagio sostenuto
Maria Joao Pires
Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176
I. Prelude. Sonnenaufgang
Boston Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg
Richard Wagner
Die Götterdämmerung, WWV 86D · “The Ring Cycle”
Trauermarsch (Edit / Remastered 2022)
Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti
Carl Orff
Carmina Burana
Introduction, "O Fortuna" (Chorus)
Berlin Philharmonic, Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle
Robert Schumann
String Quartet No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 41/1
IV. Presto
Zehetmair Quartett
Ludwig van Beethoven
Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 · “Spring”
I. Allegro
Alexander Melnikov, Isabelle Faust
Otto Nicolai
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
O Susser Mond!
Berlin Deutsches Staatopera Chorus, Bernhard Klee, Staatskapelle Berlin
Richard Strauss
Daphne, Op. 82, TrV 272
19. Ich Komme, Ich Komme (Transformation Scene)
London Symphony Orchestra, Georg Solti, Renée Fleming
Richard Strauss
Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, TrV 233 · “An Alpine Symphony”
I. Nacht
David Bell, Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan
II. Sonnenaufgang
Herbert von Karajan, David Bell, Berlin Philharmonic
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120
III. Scherzo
Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic
IV. Langsam - Lebhaft - Schneller - Presto
Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic
Max Reger
8 Improvisationen, Op. 18
VI. Allegretto con grazia
Markus Pawlik
Max Reger
Piano Concerto in F Minor, Op. 114
II. Largo con gran espressione (Live)
Joshua Weilerstein, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Markus Becker
Johannes Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op. 45 · “German Requiem”
II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras
Ilona Tokody, István Gáti, The Slovak Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, János Ferencsik
Clara Schumann
Trois romances, Op. 11
III. Moderato
Isata Kanneh-Mason
Clara Schumann
Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 17
I. Allegro Moderato
Boulanger Trio
Clara Schumann
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7
II. Romanze (Andante non troppo con grazia)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Beatrice Rana
Ferdinand Ries
Piano Concerto No. 5 in D Major, Op. 120
II. Andantino
Uwe Grodd, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Christopher Hinterhuber
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Keyboard Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, H. 128, Wq. 51/4
II. Largo e sostenuto
Christopher Hinterhuber
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Harpsichord Concerto No. 2 in D Major, H. 472, Wq. 43/2
I. Allegro di molto
Andreas Staier, Petra Müllejans, Freiburger Barockorchester
Johann David Heinichen
Concerto grosso in F Major, Hwv I:19, S. 235
1. Vivace
Reinhard Goebel, Musica Antiqua Köln
George Frideric Handel
Messiah, HWV 56
Sinfonia (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
George Frideric Handel
Serse, HWV 40 · “Xerxes”
Aria "Ombra Mai Fù" (Act 1, Scene 1)
Andreas Scholl, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Heinrich Schütz
Der Schwanengesang (12 Geistliche Gesänge), Op. 13
Deutsches Magnificat "Meine Seele Erhebt Den Herren", SWV 494
Collegium Vocale Gent, Concerto Palatino, Philippe Herreweghe
Felix Mendelssohn
A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op. 61
Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream", Op. 21
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seiji Ozawa
Richard Wagner
Der fliegende Holländer, WWV 63 · “The Flying Dutchman”
Ouvertüre
Deborah Voigt, Paul Groves, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Jan-Hendrik Rootering, Birgitta Svendén, James Morris, James Levine, Ben Heppner, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, Raymond Hughes
Richard Wagner
Die Walküre, WWV 86B · “The Ring Cycle”
Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond
Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Jonas Kaufmann, Claudio Abbado
Albert Lortzing
Ouvertüre in Es, LoWV A-9
Ouvertüre
Robert Heger, Erika Köth, Annelies Burmeister, Nicolai Gedda, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden, Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Lortzing: Zar und Zimmermann, Act I
O Sancta Justitia, ich möchte rasen
Nicolai Gedda, Annelies Burmeister, Peter Schreier, Staatskapelle Dresden, Erika Köth, Robert Heger, Rundfunkchor Leipzig
Carl Maria Von Weber
Der Freischütz, J 277, Op. 77
Overture
Carlos Kleiber, Staatskapelle Dresden
Carl Maria Von Weber
Aufforderung zum Tanze in D-Flat Major, J 260, Op. 65 · “Invitation to the Dance”
Moderato - Allegro vivace - Vivace - Moderato
Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan
Max Bruch
Scottish Fantasy in E-Flat Major, Op. 46
I. Adagio cantabile
Nicola Benedetti, Rory Macdonald, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Johannes Brahms
Cello Sonata No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 38
I. Allegro non troppo
Rudolf Serkin, Mstislav Rostropovich
Felix Mendelssohn
Songs without Words, Book I, Op. 19b, Op. 19
No. 1 in E Major, MWV U 86 - "Sweet Remembrance"
Daniel Barenboim
Johann Jakob Froberger
Ricercar in D Minor, FbWV 411
Ricercar in D Minor, FbWV 411
Alexandra Sostmann
Johann Sebastian Bach
Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080 · “The Art of the Fugue”
Contrapunctus No. 1
Grigory Sokolov
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita No. 2 for Violin in D Minor, BWV 1004
V. Chaconne
Hilary Hahn
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90 · “Italian Symphony”
I. Allegro vivace
Riccardo Chailly, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
III. Finale. Allegro energico
Jeffrey Tate, English Chamber Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
IV. Adagio - Allegro Non Troppo Ma Con Brio
Sergiu Celibidache, Munich Philharmonic
Johann Pachelbel
Chaconne in F Minor, P. 43, POP 16
Ciacona in F Minor
Alexandra Sostmann
Gottfried Finger
A Ground in D Minor
A Ground
Dorothee Oberlinger, Ensemble 1700
Quantz: Flute Concerto No. 97 in G Minor, QV 5:206
II. Amorevole
Michael Alexander Willens, Kölner Akademie, Eric Lamb
Johann Jakob Froberger
Partita in C Major, FbWV 612
I. Lamento
Magdalena Hasibeder
Dietrich Buxtehude
Trio Sonata in A Minor, BuxWV 272
Trio Sonata in A Minor, BuxWV 272
Sophie Gent, Ensemble Masques, Olivier Fortin, Mélisande Corriveau
Dietrich Buxtehude
Wo soll ich fliehen hin? in G Minor, BuxWV 112
Wo Soll Ich Fliehen Hin?, BuxWV 112
Musica Fiata, Roland Wilson, Venice Capella Ducale
Heinichen
Litaniae pro Festo Santi Fr. Xaveri in C Minor, S. 87
Cornelius Uhle, Alexander Schneider, Jarosław Thiel, Piotr Olech, Joowon Chung, Magdalene Harer, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Polyharmonique, Matthias Lutze, Johannes Gaubitz, Soren Richter
Keiser
Croesus, Sinfonia avanti l'opera Croesus
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, René Jacobs
Dietrich Buxtehude
Membra Jesu Nostri, BuxWV 75
I. Ad Pedes. Ecce Super Montes
Konrad Junghänel, Cantus Cölln
Heinrich Schütz
Symphoniae Sacrae III, Op. 12
O Süßer Jesu Christ, SWV 405
Cantus Cölln, Konrad Junghänel
Louis Spohr
Violin Concerto No. 8 in A Minor, Op. 47 · “in Form einer Gesangszene”
II. Adagio - Andante
Eiji Oue, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hilary Hahn
Max Bruch
Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Vladimir Ashkenazy, Philharmonia Orchestra, Lynn Harrell
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier - Highlights, III.Akt
Marie Theres'!...Hab'mirs Gelobt & Scene Finale/closing Scene/Schlußszene (Octavian,Marschallin,Sophie,Faninal)
Teresa Stich-Randall, Herbert von Karajan, Christa Ludwig, Eberhard Wächter, Philharmonia Orchestra, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Engelbert Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel, EHWV 93.3 · “Hansel and Gretel”
"Abends will ich schlafen gehn"
Brigitte Fassbaender, Georg Solti, Lucia Popp, Vienna Philharmonic
Pantomime
Georg Solti, Vienna Philharmonic
Fanny Mendelssohn
6 Lieder, Op. 9
No. 6, Die Mainacht (Arr. for Soprano and Orchestra by Tal-Haim Samnon)
Daniel Grossmann, Chen Reiss, Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich
Andreas Raselius
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland (Arr. Jeanette Sorrell)
Apollo's Fire, Apollo's Musettes, Scott Mello, Kirsten Sollek, Jeannette Sorrell, Apollo’s Singers
Michael Praetorius
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland
Apollo's Fire, Apollo's Musettes, Jeannette Sorrell, Apollo’s Singers
Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135
3. Lento assai, cantante e tranquillo
Amadeus Quartet
Richard Strauss
Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24, TrV 158 · “Death and Transfiguration”
Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24, TrV 158
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
Clemens Christian Poetzsch
Kleines Silber
Kleines Silber
Clemens Christian Poetzsch
H. Fuchs
Pacha Mama
Henning Fuchs
Nils Frahm
Kurzum
Kurzum
Nils Frahm
Martin Kohlstedt
Ströme
JINGOL
Martin Kohlstedt, GewandhausChor, Gregor Meyer

100 Tracks, 12 Hours 13 minutes