The year 2025 will be a special one in the music world, as it offers numerous occasions to celebrate significant anniversaries of great or lesser-known composers. These commemorative days – be they milestone birthdays or anniversaries of death – invite music lovers and experts to honor the legacy of artists who have had a decisive influence on music history. At these moments, the repertoire is not only enriched by a historical dimension, but also revitalized for today’s listeners.
Many of these composers contributed to the development of style-defining trends that broke up the musical understanding of their time and opened up new worlds of sound. Some used minimalist compositions to create their very own tonal language with an atmospheric and meditative effect, while others used avant-garde techniques to question the boundaries of traditional tonality. Still others combined European classical traditions with influences from their respective origins, creating unmistakable musical identities.
The celebrations surrounding these anniversaries offer an opportunity to discover or rediscover the broad spectrum of their works. Performances and commemorative concerts that take up the work of these composers will open up new perspectives on their work worldwide. Even today, decades after their works were written, their pieces continue to inspire modern music – whether through new interpretations or by examining their musical theories and compositional approaches.
In a year full of musical anniversaries, it is worth having a closer look at the work of these visionary composers and reassessing their influence on the contemporary musical landscape. Here is a list of composers who will be celebrating a centenary in 2025:
