What happens when composers become each other’s teachers, critics, and friends?
Their music begins to resonate — ideas travelling in widening circles, carried forward through time.

Mendelssohn and Schumann shared a productive working relationship in Leipzig, marked by deep professional respect. A generation later, Schumann’s championing of Brahms as the “future of German music” forged one of the most influential artistic bonds of the Romantic era.

Fauré and Saint‑Saëns sustained a remarkable sixty‑year friendship, documented in more than a hundred letters. Saint‑Saëns taught Fauré, mentored him, and opened the doors of Parisian musical life, shaping his early career.

Mozart and Haydn were kindred spirits across a generation, admiring each other’s craft, playing quartets together, and exchanging works. Mozart dedicated his six “Haydn” quartets to his elder friend — a gesture of profound artistic respect.

Bartók and Kodály discovered a shared passion for Hungarian folk music in 1905, sparking a partnership that transformed ethnomusicology. Their fieldwork shaped two distinct musical voices and left a lasting imprint on 20th‑century composition.

Copland, Bernstein, and Barber formed a vibrant American circle. Bernstein regarded Copland as his “only real composition teacher,” while Barber shared their artistic milieu; all three worked closely with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood.

Holst and Vaughan Williams, the self‑styled “committee of two,” were lifelong friends and trusted critics. Their shared ideals and collaboration helped define the sound of English music in the early 20th century.

These are the musical friendships that shaped eras and traditions.
Join the Bach Choir for Sounding Boards, featuring music shaped by the artistic relationships that defined their time.

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