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
Vienna Philharmonic, Carlos Kleiber
Richard Wagner
Die Walküre, WWV86B · “The Valkyrie”
Hojotoho! Heiaha! (Ride of the Valkyries) [Edit / Remastered 2022]
Helen Watts, Brigitte Fassbaender, Helga Dernesch, Georg Solti, Vera Schlosser, Berit Lindholm, Vienna Philharmonic, Claudia Hellmann, Marilyn Tyler, Vera Little
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
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Herbert Blomstedt
Johannes Brahms
21 Hungarian Dances, WoO  1
No. 1 in G Minor. Allegro molto (Orchestrated by Brahms)
Claudio Abbado, Vienna Philharmonic
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 3 in E‑Flat Major, Op.  97 · “Rhenish”
I. Lebhaft
Munich Philharmonic, Sergiu Celibidache
Robert Schumann
Dichterliebe, Op.  48
No. 1. Im wunderschönen Monat Mai
Fritz Wunderlich, Hubert Giesen
Felix Mendelssohn
Elijah, Op.  70 · “Elias”
No. 2 Duett Mit Chor. Das Volk, Zwei Frauen "Herr, Höre Unser Gebet!"
Orchestre des Champs-Elysées, Philippe Herreweghe, Collegium Vocale Gent, La Chapelle Royale
Johann Sebastian Bach
St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244
Nr.68. Chorus I & II "Wir setzen uns mit Tränen nieder"
Raphaël Pichon, Ensemble Pygmalion
Ludwig van Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op.  58
I. Allegro moderato
Claudio Arrau, Colin Davis, 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
G. P. Telemann: Tafelmusik
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, TWV5:1 · “Brockes Passion”
I. Teil: 16. Arie (Jesus) "Mein Vater!" / ... / 18. Arie (Jesus) "Ist's Möglich, Daß Dein Zorn Sich Stille"
Johannes Weisser, René Jacobs, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
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
Johann Georg Pisendel
Violin Concerto in D Major, Jung I .7
I. Vivace
Concerto Köln, Mayumi Hirasaki
Felix Mendelssohn
Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.  64
I. Allegro molto appassionato
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bernard Haitink, Itzhak Perlman
Johannes Brahms
Clarinet Quintet in B Minor, Op.  115
1. Allegro
Karl Leister, Amadeus Quartet
Richard Wagner
Tristan und Isolde, WWV90 · “Tristan and Isolde”
Prelude
Symphony of the Air, Henry Schuman, Leopold Stokowski
"Mild und leise wie er lächelt"
Daniel Barenboim, Berlin Philharmonic, Waltraud Meier
Richard Strauss
Vier letzte Lieder, Op. 150, TrV 296, AV150 · “Four Last Songs”
IV. Im Abendrot
Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Jessye Norman, Kurt Masur
Johann Pachelbel
Canon and Gigue in D Major, P. 37
Canon in D
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Edward Brewer
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. 13/1, DTB8/2.3
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
Simon Standage, The English Concert, Elizabeth Wilcock, Trevor Pinnock
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op.  125 · “Choral Symphony”
I. Allegro ma non troppo, un poco maestoso
Berlin Philharmonic, Carlo Maria Giulini
Johannes Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op.  15
II. Adagio
Philharmonia Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim, John Barbirolli
Robert Schumann
Waldszenen, Op.  82 · “Forest Scenes”
7. 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 João Pires
Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30, TrV 176
I. Prelude. Sonnenaufgang
Boston Symphony Orchestra, William Steinberg
Richard Wagner
Die Götterdämmerung, WWV86D · “Twilight of the Gods”
Trauermarsch (Edit / Remastered 2022)
Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti
Carl Orff
Carmina Burana
Introduction, "O Fortuna" (Chorus)
Rundfunkchor Berlin, Sir Simon Rattle, Berlin Philharmonic
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
Isabelle Faust, Alexander Melnikov
Otto Nicolai
Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor, “The Merry Wives of Windsor”
O Susser Mond!
Bernhard Klee, Berlin Deutsches Staatopera Chorus, 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
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, David Bell
II. Sonnenaufgang
Herbert von Karajan, David Bell, Berlin Philharmonic
Robert Schumann
Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op.  120
III. Scherzo
Vienna Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
IV. Langsam - Lebhaft - Schneller - Presto
Vienna Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein
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)
NDR Radiophilharmonie, Joshua Weilerstein, Markus Becker
Johannes Brahms
Ein deutsches Requiem, Op.  45 · “German Requiem”
II. Denn alles Fleisch, es ist wie Gras
The Slovak Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra, Ilona Tokody, János Ferencsik, István Gáti
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, Beatrice Rana, Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Ferdinand Ries
Piano Concerto No. 5 in D Major, Op. 120
II. Andantino
Christopher Hinterhuber, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Uwe Grodd
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Keyboard Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, H. 128, Wq. 51/4
II. Largo e sostenuto
Christopher Hinterhuber
C. P. E. Bach: Concerto no.2 in D major
I. Allegro di molto
Freiburger Barockorchester, Andreas Staier, Petra Müllejans
Johann David Heinichen
Concerto grosso in F Major, S. 235, S. eibel235
1. Vivace
Musica Antiqua Köln, Reinhard Goebel
George Frideric Handel
Messiah, HWV 56
Sinfonia (Grave - Allegro moderato)
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien
George Frideric Handel
Serse, HWV 40 · “Xerxes”
Aria "Ombra Mai Fù" (Act 1, Scene 1)
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Andreas Scholl
Schütz
Deutsches Magnificat "Meine Seele Erhebt Den Herren", SWV 494
Collegium Vocale Gent, Philippe Herreweghe, Concerto Palatino
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, WWV63 · “The Flying Dutchman”
Ouvertüre
Paul Groves, Deborah Voigt, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus, James Morris, James Levine, Raymond Hughes, Ben Heppner, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Birgitta Svendén, Jan-Hendrik Rootering
Richard Wagner
Die Walküre, WWV86B · “The Valkyrie”
Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemond
Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Jonas Kaufmann, Claudio Abbado
Albert Lortzing
Zar und Zimmermann, LoWV  38 · “Tsar and Carpenter”
Ouvertüre
Chor Des Reichssenders Leipzig, Annelies Burmeister, Staatskapelle Dresden, Nicolai Gedda, Peter Schreier, Robert Heger, Erika Köth
O Sancta Justitia, ich möchte rasen
Robert Heger, Chor Des Reichssenders Leipzig, Annelies Burmeister, Staatskapelle Dresden, Erika Köth, Peter Schreier, Nicolai Gedda
Carl Maria von Weber
Der Freischütz, J. 277, Op.  77
Overture
Staatskapelle Dresden, Carlos Kleiber
Act 2 "Milch Des Mondes Fiel Aufs Kraut" [Chorus, Kaspar, Samiel, Max]
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Ekkehard Schall, Rundfunk Chor Berlin, Berlin Philharmonic, Matti Salminen, Endrik Wottrich
Carl Maria von Weber
Aufforderung zum Tanze in D‑Flat Major, J. 260, Op.  65 · “Invitation to the Dance”
Moderato - Allegro vivace - Vivace - Moderato
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic
Max Bruch
Scottish Fantasy in E‑Flat Major, Op. 46
I. Adagio cantabile
Nicola Benedetti, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Rory Macdonald
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
Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala, Riccardo Chailly
Max Bruch
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
III. Finale. Allegro energico
English Chamber Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy, Jeffrey Tate
Johannes Brahms
Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op.  68
IV. Adagio - Allegro Non Troppo Ma Con Brio
Munich Philharmonic, Sergiu Celibidache
Johann Pachelbel
Ciaccona in F Minor
Ciacona in F Minor
Alexandra Sostmann
Gottfried Finger
A Ground in D Minor
A Ground
Ensemble 1700, Dorothee Oberlinger
Johann Joachim Quantz
Concerto No. 97 in G Minor, QV 5/206
II. Amorevole
Kölner Akademie, Michael Alexander Willens, 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
Olivier Fortin, Sophie Gent, Ensemble Masques, Mélisande Corriveau
Dietrich Buxtehude
Wo soll ich fliehen hin? in G Minor, BuxWV  112
Wo Soll Ich Fliehen Hin?, BuxWV 112
Roland Wilson, Musica Fiata, Venice Capella Ducale
Heinichen
Litaniae pro Festo Santi Fr. Xaveri in C Minor, S. 87
Magdalene Harer, Alexander Schneider, Jarosław Thiel, Matthias Lutze, Cornelius Uhle, Soren Richter, Joowon Chung, Johannes Gaubitz, Piotr Olech, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Polyharmonique
Reinhard Keiser
Croesus
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
Cantus Cölln, Konrad Junghänel
Schütz
O Süßer Jesu Christ, SWV 405
Konrad Junghänel, Cantus Cölln
Louis Spohr
Violin Concerto No. 8 in A Minor, Op.  47 · “in Form einer Gesangszene”
II. Adagio - Andante
Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Hilary Hahn, Eiji Oue
Max Bruch
Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Kol Nidrei, Op. 47
Philharmonia Orchestra, Lynn Harrell, Vladimir Ashkenazy
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier - Highlights, III.Akt
Marie Theres'!...Hab'mirs Gelobt & Scene Finale/closing Scene/Schlußszene (Octavian,Marschallin,Sophie,Faninal)
Herbert von Karajan, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eberhard Wächter, Teresa Stich-Randall, Christa Ludwig, Philharmonia Orchestra
Engelbert Humperdinck
Hänsel und Gretel, EHWV 93.3 · “Hansel and Gretel”
"Abends will ich schlafen gehn"
Georg Solti, Lucia Popp, Brigitte Fassbaender, Vienna Philharmonic
Pantomime
Vienna Philharmonic, Georg Solti
Fanny Mendelssohn
6 Lieder, Op.  9
No. 6, Die Mainacht (Arr. for Soprano and Orchestra by Tal-Haim Samnon)
Chen Reiss, Daniel Grossmann, Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich
Martin Luther
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland (Arr. Jeanette Sorrell)
Jeannette Sorrell, Apollo's Musettes, Apollo’s Singers, Kirsten Sollek, Scott Mello, Apollo's Fire
Michael Praetorius
Nun komm der Heiden Heiland
Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland
Apollo's Fire, Apollo’s Singers, Jeannette Sorrell, Apollo's Musettes
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

100 Tracks, 12 Hours 27 minutes