All of us have people in our lives who have influenced us positively, and most of the time these people are our own parents. Many composers, musicians and performers reached the pinnacle of their careers through the love, support and guidance of their parents. To celebrate Mother's Day, let's get to know 10 composers whose first musical influences were their mothers.
Mily Alekseyevich Balakirev was the leader of a group of Russian composers called "The Mighty Five." He composed, among others, songs, symphonic poems, piano pieces and orchestral music. Balakirev received early music lessons from his mother and later studied with Alexander Dubuque and Karl Eisrich.
Béla Bartók was a teacher, composer, pianist and ethnomusicologist. His mother was his first piano teacher and he would later on study at the Hungarian Academy of Music in Budapest.
Nadia Boulanger was a respected teacher of musical composition, an organist and conductor of the 20th century. Her father, Ernest Boulanger, was one of her main influences as well as her mother, Raissa Myschetsky, who taught her the importance of discipline.
Ferruccio Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto Busoni was an Italian/German composer and concert pianist of the 20th century. Busoni's early influence were his parents; his father was a clarinetist and his mother was a pianist. He learned how to play the piano from his mother.
Nat King Cole started out as a pianist and later became one of the world's most memorable vocalists. His mother was his first piano teacher; he would later take up formal piano lessons under another tutor.
George Percy Grainger was an Australian composer, conductor, pianist and avid collector of folk music. Grainger was taught by his mother (with whom he remained close) and at age 10, had his first public performance as a pianist.
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was a talented pianist, composer of lieder and chamber music. She was the oldest of 4 children and the sister of composer Felix Mendelssohn. Her mother; Leah, trained her musically and gave her piano lessons.
Florence Beatrice Smith Price was the first African-American woman composer of symphonic music. and the first African-American woman whose work; "Symphony in E Minor," was played by a US orchestra. Her mother was one of her musical influences who taught her how to play the piano at a young age.
Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer of the 20th century especially notable for his stage works. His mother taught him how to play the piano at a young age and he began composing when he was only 5 years old.
Anton von Webern was an Austrian composer, conductor and arranger belonging to the 12-tone Viennese school. His mother was his first teacher; she taught Webern how to play the piano.
