Episode 5 of Man's Greatest Achievements explores the wonderful world of 17th Century Music Composers. From Beethoven to Handel, this episode covers all of the greats of the 17th Century, as well as their lives behind the music. There are many theories regarding when and where music originated. Many agree that music began even before man existed. Historiographers point out that there are six periods of music and each period has a particular style that greatly contributed to what music is today. These composers faced many personal tragedies, from family deaths, to affairs and fatal illness. Beethoven - For many people, Beethoven is the greatest composer who ever lived. His music reveals a titanic personality, vulnerable and belligerent, comic and tragic, and above all heroic, as he comes to grips with perhaps the greatest disability a musician can suffer. No man's music is more universal, few men's lives are more inspiring. In every sense but one - his modest height - he was a giant. Tchaikovsky - was a Russian composer whose works included symphonies, operas, ballets, and chamber music. Some of these rate amongst the most popular concert and theatrical music in the classical repertoire. Mozart - The youngest child and only surviving son of Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus was born in Salzburg in 1756.
