Germany has long been a powerhouse of classical music, producing some of the most influential and revered composers in history.
From the intricate counterpoint of the Baroque to the sweeping dramas of the Romantic era and the innovations of the 20th century, German composers have shaped the very foundation of Western music. Their works have inspired awe, provoked thought, and stirred deep emotion across generations and continents.
Below, we celebrate 21 of the greatest German composers of all time—ranking them not just by popularity, but by their historical impact, innovation, influence on future generations, and lasting contributions to musical art. Some are household names, towering figures whose legacies are carved into the core of concert halls and conservatories. Others are lesser-known yet no less important, whose works continue to gain appreciation as history unfolds.
From Bach’s divine architecture to Beethoven’s revolutionary spirit, and from Wagner’s monumental operas to the cinematic genius of Hans Zimmer, this list spans centuries of brilliance and transformation. Whether you're a seasoned classical enthusiast or just beginning to explore, these 21 composers represent the beating heart of Germany’s extraordinary musical legacy.
So, let’s dive in—starting with number 21 and building to the very top.
Best German composers
21. Max Bruch (1838-1920)
A close contemporary of Johannes Brahms (whom we'll meet further down), Max Bruch is best remembered for his Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, a Romantic masterpiece beloved for its lyricism and emotional depth. Though often overshadowed by contemporaries, Bruch’s choral and orchestral works reflect melodic richness and craftsmanship. His music, especially for violin, remains a staple of concert repertoire and a testament to the Romantic tradition.
Discover Bruch: Definitely start with that wonderful Violin Concerto.
20. Paul Hindemith (1895-1963)
Paul Hindemith was a prolific German composer, who spent much of his career falling in and out of favour with the Nazi party. During his early years as a composer he was influenced by the Romantics, before moving to Expressionism.
Discover Hindemith: Try the wonderfully eclectic and tangy soundworld of his Kammermusik - a series of pieces for different chamber ensembles. Here's number 5, with a very arresting beginning:
19. Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)
Born in 1653, Pachelbel is particularly known for his organ music. With over 200 organ pieces alone to his name, he played a significant part in developing the chorale, prelude and fugue. His music enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime - and one piece still does today. Speaking of which...
Discover Pachelbel: Can we choose anything other than the sublime Canon? If you need to delve further into Pachelbel, try the Hexachordum Apollinis, a dazzling set of keyboard variations.
18. Heinrich Schütz (1585–1672)
A pioneering German composer of the early Baroque era, Schütz is often regarded as the greatest German composer before Bach. Influenced by Monteverdi, he fused Italian expressiveness with German musical traditions. Schütz’s sacred music laid the groundwork for later Protestant choral music and the German Baroque style.
Discover Schütz: The Musikalische Exequien (1636) us a deeply moving funeral composition and the first German-language requiem.
17. CPE Bach (1714-88)
JS Bach's son Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach certainly inherited his father's genius. Bridging the gap between the Baroque period of his father and the start of Classical period, he proved to be one of the pioneers of this burgeoning music style. CPE was also a key figure of the Sturm und Drang movement, a sort of prototype for Romanticism in its emphases on drama and emotion.
Discover CPE Bach: The six restless, adventurous 'Hamburg' Symphonies anticipate Haydn's Sturm und Drang symphonies in their nervy, often minor-key energy.
16. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
In his own lifetime, the great JS Bach had to cede honours to his contemporary Georg Philipp Telemann. This composer, now growing again in stature after decades of relative obscurity, was a big name in his day. Indeed, it was he, not Bach, who was favourite for the job as Thomaskantor, or music director, of Leipzig's Thomaskirche back in 1722. Telemann turned the post down. Enter Bach.
Discover Telemann: Try this haunting Concerto for Traverso Flute and Recorder:
15. Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-47)
The daughter of a bourgeois German family, Fanny Mendelssohn displayed great musical talent from a young age. However, her family did not believe music was a respectable career for a young woman. So, while her brother Felix travelled Europe with his compositions, Fanny stayed at home. However, she didn't allow this to discourage her. Over her lifetime Fanny penned 460 pieces, including some beautiful chamber music and many exquisite songs. She is certainly one of the greatest female composers of all time.
Discover Fanny Mendelssohn: The delightful Piano Trio in D.
14. Christoph Willibald Gluck (1714-87)
Gluck's determination to make opera simpler and free of frills would reform the art form far beyond his own works. In the words of Max Lompert: 'Gluck at the time of his death was perhaps the world’s most famous opera composer, and now (I believe) opera’s most neglected and misunderstood creator of front-rank importance.'
Discover Gluck: The late opera Iphigénie en Tauride, which follows the family of the Greek king Agamemnon after the Trojan War, is often considered his finest work.
13. Hans Zimmer (b. 1957)
Hans Zimmer is the undisputed king of Hollywood film scores. One of the greatest film composers in the world, he is particularly known for composing the film scores for Pirates of the Caribbean series. But his CV also includes The Dark Knight, Inception and even The Lion King, for which he won an Oscar.
Discover Hans Zimmer: Anywhere you like! His film music is all immediate, atmospheric, and absorbing. If we had to pick one, the music for Inception is particularly poignant and evocative.
12. Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
The premiere of Weber's first opera Der Freischütz not only announced his arrival as a great opera composer. It also marked the arrival of German Romanticism as a music. Previously, Italy and France had reigned supreme here, with German-language works regarded as mere provincial curiosities. Weber would pave the way for other German opera composers such as Marschner, Meyerbeer and, famously, Wagner.
Discover Weber: His evocative opera, Der Freischütz.
11. Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179)
Little is known about the life of the 12th-century abbess Hildegard von Bingen. But her music provides the bedrock for many vocal composition techniques and is still featured on concert programmes around the world. We do know that Hildegard composed more than 80 spiritual pieces of choral music. She was one of the pioneers of the Early Music period, when the voice was massively important and the instrument of choice for many.
Discover Hildegard von Bingen: Try Sequentia's legendary Hildegard album Canticles of Ecstasy.
We named Hildegard von Bingen one of the most famous female composers of all time
10. Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007)
Stockhausen was a seminal figure in post-1945 Modernism and one of the most experimental and progressive composers of the 20th century. He redefined notions of what types of sound could be deemed acceptable in composition. He also took a pioneering approach with his use of electronics in art music.
Discover Stockhausen: The Tierkreis cycle is Stockhausen at his most melodic and accessible. 'Tierkreis' is German for Zodiac, and the piece is made up of 12 melodies, one for each star sign.
9. Clara Schumann (1819-96)
Child prodigy, sought-after concert pianist, mother of seven surviving children, Clara Schumann was also a burgeoning composer in a male-dominated musical world. A gifted child, she went on to write a wide range of music ranging from Lieder and fugues to chamber and orchestral works, each expressing her distinctive style of composition. A victim of the prevailing gender mores, Clara remained in the shadows until her music was rediscovered in the 1970s.
Discover Clara Schumann: Like her husband, Clara wrote a very fine Piano Concerto.
8. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)
Handel was given British status by George II and lived much of his life in London. But he was born in Germany. It's thus only right that such an eminent composer belongs on this list of best German composers. A master of opera and oratorio, Handel's psychological insight and deep humanity, together with his genius as composer and melodist resulted in works which live on outside their own time.
Discover Handel: Start with his rousing oratorio Messiah, the effervescent Water Music... and 'Zadok The Priest’, played at every British coronation.
7. Felix Mendelssohn (1809-47)
Felix Mendelssohn could well be labelled the most talented musical prodigy of all time, although Mozart and Schubert would also have a say in the debate here. At the age of 15, his teacher claimed that Mendelssohn’s talents were equal to those of Bach, Haydn and Mozart. His music incorporates the elegance and balance of the Classical era, while still evoking the fantasy of the Romantic.
Discover Mendelssohn: Try his skittering, shimmering Overture to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream, in this electric performance from the LSO and Claudio Abbado.
6. Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
This late-Romantic composer was particularly famous for his richly scored tone poems and heady operas. Strauss composed almost right up to his death, completing his final masterpiece Four Last Songs in 1949 aged 85. In his 25-year sequence of tone poems, from Don Juan to the Alpine Symphony, Strauss showed a stunning gift for colourful orchestration (orchestras love playing Strauss!) and a remarkable capacity for invention. One of the best Romantics, and one of the best German composers.
Discover Strauss: All the tone poems are marvels. But Don Juan, a sonic portrait of the life, loves and ultimate tragedy of the legendary libertine, makes a great start.
5. Robert Schumann (1810-56)
Robert Schumann was a turbulent genius. He was also a forward-thinking intellectual, who championed younger composers, especially Brahms, and helped the reputations of Chopin and Mozart. Fusing literary and musical thinking was central to his philosophy. Best known for his piano music, Lieder and orchestral works, Schumann also composed some marvellous chamber masterpieces, like his Piano Quintet. Much of his music is inspired by literature and poems.
Discover Schumann: Schumann is present most intimately in his solo piano music, such as the evocative Fantasiestücke, here performed by the great Martha Argerich.
4. Richard Wagner (1813-83)
Wagner revolutionised opera through his concept of the 'Gesamtkunstwerk'—a total work of art combining music, poetry, and drama. His rich harmonies, leitmotifs, and grand scale works, especially the monumental Ring Cycle, transformed musical storytelling. Wagner’s influence reshaped Western music, pushing boundaries of form, harmony, and orchestration that continue to inspire and challenge composers today.
Discover Wagner: The Ring Cycle is incredible - but dauntingly huge. Start more manageably with this:
German composers: the top three
3. Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
A master of structure, emotion and tradition, Brahms blended Romantic depth with Classical discipline
While Brahms's music had elements familiar to those from the Classical era, it had a Romantic spirit and much of it was composed in Vienna. When growing up in Hamburg, he was fascinated by folk tales and songs, and his music is famous for being intensely dark – and is notoriously difficult to play. He was influenced in equal parts by his great Austro-German forebears Beethoven, Schubert - and Schumann, whom Brahms got to know as a young man.
Composer Mark Simpson says: 'The best Brahms transcends his grounded, earthy sense of being and take us to a higher state of spiritual awareness – the passage between the human and the spiritual world. He was in essence deeply human but also had a developed spiritual side. It’s this striving for a higher state of expressive consciousness that I take most from his work.'
Discover Brahms: Yikes. So much wonderful music to choose from. Chamber music fan? Then try his masterful, brooding Piano Quintet or the soulful, autumnal and achingly beautiful Clarinet Quintet. Partial to a big Romantic symphony? All four are wonderful - why not start with the sunny Second Symphony.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Redefined music’s emotional power, bridging Classical form with Romantic expression and intensity
Beethoven needs little introduction and is one of the most famous composers ever. Born in 1770, he straddled both the Classical and Romantic eras, and his wide-ranging music dominated the musical landscape at the time. He is the composer credited with reinventing classical music and developing the symphony, bringing revolutionary new ideas to composition. Like Bach, Beethoven's stature goes way beyond one of the best German composers: he had a simply colossal impact on the history of classical music.
- The 20 greatest symphonies of all time
- 'Like nothing else in music': 20 Beethoven masterpieces you must hear
Discover Beethoven: Perhaps an obvious choice, but where on earth would we be without Beethoven's Fifth Symphony...? It grabs your attention from the start, and never lets up. And the transition from the Scherzo to the Finale (from around 23:30 in the recording below) is one of classical music's greatest moments, a thrillingly inevitable victory of light over darkness.
1. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Bach laid the foundation of Western music with unmatched mastery of harmony, counterpoint, and spiritual depth
Of course he's here. We named JS Bach one of the best Baroque composers ever and one of the greatest composers of all time. He is, unsurprisingly, a bit of a shoo-in to our list of best German composers. Born in 1685 into a prodigiously gifted musical family, Bach spent most of his career as an organist for churches and royal courts.
Through his lifetime Bach produced countless masterpieces, including solo keyboard works, cantatas, concertos, oratorios, and solo and orchestral suites and his greatest composition is widely believed to be the St Matthew Passion. His keyboard works are particularly revered, particularly the Brandenburg Concertos and The Well-Tempered Clavier.
Where to start with Bach: There's just so much to choose from. But for their colour and variety, why not begin with the six Brandenburg Concertos? The effervescent Number 3 might be your best way in of all:
Pics: Getty Images