Claudio Monteverdi was an Italian composer who lived during the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the madrigal, and his music often incorporated elements of polyphony, counterpoint, and chromaticism.

Jean-Philippe Rameau was a French composer who lived during the Baroque period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the French court, particularly the music of Jean-Baptiste Lully, and his music often incorporated elements of dance, opera, and instrumental music.

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer who lived during the Baroque period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the German Lutheran Church, particularly the music of Martin Luther, and his music often incorporated elements of chorales, cantatas, and passions.

George Frideric Handel was a German-born composer who lived during the Baroque period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Italian opera, particularly the music of Alessandro Scarlatti, and his music often incorporated elements of opera, oratorio, and instrumental music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer who lived during the Classical period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Viennese Classical period, particularly the music of Joseph Haydn, and his music often incorporated elements of opera, symphony, and concerto.

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer who lived during the transition from the Classical to the Romantic periods. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Romantic period, particularly the music of Franz Schubert, and his music often incorporated elements of symphony, concerto, and sonata.

Claude Debussy was a French composer who lived during the Impressionist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Impressionist period, particularly the music of Maurice Ravel, and his music often incorporated elements of opera, symphony, and chamber music.

Igor Stravinsky was a Russian-born composer who lived during the Modernist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Modernist period, particularly the music of Arnold Schoenberg, and his music often incorporated elements of opera, ballet, and symphony.

John Cage was an American composer who lived during the Postmodernist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Postmodernist period, particularly the music of Karlheinz Stockhausen, and his music often incorporated elements of chance, indeterminacy, and experimentalism.

Philip Glass is an American composer who lived during the Minimalist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Minimalist period, particularly the music of Steve Reich, and his music often incorporates elements of repetition, ostinato, and trance.

Brian Ferneyhough is a British composer who lived during the New Complexity period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the New Complexity period, particularly the music of Helmut Lachenmann, and his music often incorporates elements of extended techniques, polyrhythms, and microtonality.

Gérard Grisey is a French composer who lived during the Spectralist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Spectralist period, particularly the music of Tristan Murail, and his music often incorporates elements of spectral analysis, timbre, and resonance.

John Adams is an American composer who lived during the New Simplicity period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the New Simplicity period, particularly the music of Steve Reich, and his music often incorporates elements of minimalism, polyrhythms, and ostinato.

Louis Andriessen is a Dutch composer who lived during the Post-Minimalist period. He was heavily influenced by the music of the Post-Minimalist period, particularly the music of Michael Nyman, and his music often incorporates elements of minimalism, polyrhythms, and extended techniques.

Jennifer Higdon is an American composer who lived during the New Tonalism period. She was heavily influenced by the music of the New Tonalism period, particularly the music of Christopher Rouse, and her music often incorporates elements of tonality, lyricism, and emotional expression.