“Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” or “Shall I tell you, Mother” is a popularized French children's melody by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart that inspired several classical compositions in several languages all over the world.

The melody can be traced back in 1740 being a pastoral song and it took several years before the lyrics was incorporated. 

There were speculations that the original rendition was picked up by Mozart when he was staying in France in 1778.  

There are three prominent children's songs that were created out of it. These are the “Alphabet Song,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" which are so popular to kids even on our generation today. 

“Ah! vous dirai-je, maman” because of its joyful and vibrant beat not to mention being a masterpiece of Mozart has undeniably landed its own place in the musical history. 

To read more about the history of this popular song, click here: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/melody-of-ah-vous-dirai-je-maman

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was a monumental figure who greatly contributed to the progressive musical heritage of Soviet Russia in the socialist realism.

His works were the embodiment of the state’s music and political denouncement. His second opera “Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District” in collaboration with Aleksei Dikij was a phenomenal success with over 100 performances in Moscow and Leningrad.

It was Shostakovich's legendary seventh symphony "Leningrad" that truly stunned the world. On August 9, 1942, "Leningrad" was premiered by Karl Eliasberg, who  organized an orchestra out of survivors in the city. 

It was an epic psychological warfare as all loudspeakers delivered the symphony throughout the city and the performance was broadcasted live from the city radio hall. The Nazis were left with no choice but to face the music and the news spread all over the world, portraying the failure of Hitler’s invasion of Leningrad. 

Shostakovich gained national and international recognition because of his legendary works. He was awarded of the International Peace Prize in 1954 and was also chosen as the People's Artist of the USSR.

Read more of his musical journey at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/learn-about-the-russian-composer-dmitri-shostakovich-and-his-works-life

​Charles Gounod (1818-1893) was one of the stalwart composers of the Romantic era. He was celebrated not only for "Faust", his most famous creation but also well-known for "Romeo et Juliette" and Ave Maria. 

Because of his undeniable musical talent, he gradually established his reputation first being appointed as the choirmaster at the Church of the Missions Étrangères in Paris and then as the conductor of Orphéon Choral Society in 1852.

His musical strength was evident primarily in operatic compositions. Gounoud paid tribute to Napoleon III, by dedicating a national anthem to him entitled "the Vive l'Empereur" which was outstandingly performed by 1500 voices at the Universal Exposition. Because of his musical influence, he was given further recognition in 1888 when he was appointed the grand officer of the Legion of Honour.
  
Gounod’s compositional style was entirely conservative and it greatly influenced the styles of a generation of composers such as Saint-Saëns, and Bizet. His creativity produced a plethora of works that are still so relevant today to be researched and performed widely.  

Read more about the inspirational life of this maestro at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/about-charles-gounod

Jean Gabriel Prosper Marie or simply known as Jean Gabriel-Marie (1852-1928) was a prolific musician, composer and conductor who played an important role in the French music. 

He composed in 1887 "Cinquantaine" which led him to his musical stardom. He was greatly known for his spectacular cello and piano arrangements, alongside octet and others. He had shown further growth in terms of musical creativity when he created "Sérénade Badine" adding more fame to his name. The arrangement of the musical piece can be played wonderfully through a combination of saxophone and piano, or the cello and piano. 

Because of Gabriel-Marie's outstanding works, his contributions to music was highly-recognized even to this date.

Learn more of this French maestro at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/about-jean-gabriel-marie

Born Mutius Philippus Vincentius Franciscus Xaverius Clementi or Muzio Clementi (1752-1887), this Italian classical composer has a massive contribution to the development and the rise of the "pianoforte" and had pioneered brilliant compositions that greatly influenced future masters during his time such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Haydn
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His deep passion and life-long dedication of developing early piano techniques and compositional works touted him as the greatest piano master who ever lived and eventually recognized as the “father of the piano” by those who had witnessed his impeccable skills with the instrument.

The composer’s fame skyrocketed primarily due to his Opus 2 Sonatas. Despite of his leaps and bounds, Clementi refrain from any further public performances to concentrate entirely on composition. In 1813, he founded the Philharmonic Society of London with a few other musicians!

Although some would say that his works lack challenge and complexity, many experts including  Mozart himself admitted that his pieces are harder and quite challenging to play.

Read more about Clementi's life and immense musical contribution at: https://galaxymusicnotes.com/pages/about-muzio-clementi