List of composers by nationality

The following is a list of composers by nationality.

Albania

• Simon Gjoni (1926–1991), composer of orchestral and piano pieces
• Tonin Harapi (1925–1991)
• Agim Krajka (1937–2021), composer of the National Song Festival
• Aleksandër Peçi (born 1951)
• Çesk Zadeja (1927–1997), often nicknamed the "Father of Albanian music"

Argentina

Armenia

• Soghomon Soghomonian Komitas (26 Sept 1869 – 22 Oct 1935)

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Belgium

Bolivia

• Asunta Limpias de Parada (1915–1995)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Sinan Alimanović (born 1954)
• Anđelka Bego-Å imunić (born 1941)
• Franciscus Bossinensis (1485–1535)
• Rade Jovanović (1928–1986)
• Vuk Kulenovic (1946–2017)
• Mladen Milicevic (born 1958)
• Dino ReÅ¡idbegović (born 1975)
• AliÅ¡er Sijarić (born 1969)
• Aleksa Å antić (1868–1924)
• Dino Zonić (born ?)

Brazil

• Ernani Aguiar (born 1950)
• Jorge Antunes (born 1942)
• Francisco Braga (1868–1945), composer of operas, piano and symphonic works.
• Oscar Lorenzo Fernández (1897–1948)
• Sílvio Ferraz (born 1959)
• Antônio Carlos Gomes (1836–1896), celebrated opera composer in Italy, 19th century
• Mozart Camargo Guarnieri (1907–1993)
• José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767–1830), composer of classical era; priest, wrote both sacred and secular music.
• Radamés Gnatalli (1906–1988)
• César Guerra-Peixe (1914–1993)
• Osvaldo Lacerda (1927–2011)
• Elias Álvares Lobo (1834–1901), composer of sacred and secular music; wrote first Brazilian opera.
• Alexandre Levy (1864–1892)
• Emerico Lobo de Mesquita (1746–1805)
• Francisco Mignone (1897–1986)
• Ronaldo Miranda (born 1948)
• Alberto Nepomuceno (1864–1920)
• Marlos Nobre (born 1939)
• José Antônio Rezende de Almeida Prado (1943–2010)
• Cláudio Santoro (1919–1989)
• Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), one of the most performed Brazilian composers worldwide
• José Carlos Amaral Vieira (born 1952)
• Edson Zampronha (born 1963)

Bulgaria

• Georgi Arnaoudov (born 1957), composer of stage, orchestral, chamber, film, vocal and piano music
• Alexandra Fol (born 1981), composer and organist, currently writing her dissertation at McGill University's Schulich School of Music
• Marin Goleminov (1908–2000), composer, violinist, conductor
• Michail Goleminov (born 1956), composer, pianist, conductor, and co-founder of music publishing house The Orange Factory
• Dobri Hristov (1875–1941), composer of choral music as well as music for the church and orchestra
• Petar Krumov (born 1934), composer, arranger, conductor and expert on Bulgarian folk music
• Filip Kutev (1903–1982), composer, arranger and founder of Bulgaria's State Ensemble for Folk Song and Dance
• Kiril Lambov (born 1955) composer, pianist, and conductor
• Milcho Leviev (1937–2019), composer, arranger, jazz performer and pianist
• Emanuil Manolov (1860–1902), composed the first Bulgarian opera Siromahkinia based on the work of Ivan Vazov with the same title
• Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska (born 1965), composer and director in Luxembourg, one of her most famous works is "Gladius"
• Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean (born 1960), composer, harpist, pedagogue
• Petko Staynov (1896–1977), a founding member and first chairman of the Bulgarian Contemporary Music Society (1933), which later became the Union of Bulgarian Composers
• Veselin Stoyanov (1902–1969), composer of classical music including two symphonies
• Emil Tabakov (born 1947), composer of symphonies and concertos
• Dobrinka Tabakova (born 1980), composer
• Julia Tsenova (1948–2010), contemporary composer, pianist, jazz pedagogue
• Georgi Tutev (1924–1994), composer of contemporary classical music, one of the main representatives of Bulgarian modernism
• Pancho Vladigerov (1899–1978), a founding member of the Bulgarian Contemporary Music Society (1933)

Canada

• Airat Ichmouratov (1973), composer, pedagogue, conductor, klezmer clarinetist

Chile

• Jaime González (born 1956), composer and music educator
• Víctor Jara (1932–1973), composer, pedagogue, theatre director, poet, singer-songwriter, and political activist
• Juan Orrego-Salas (1919–2019)
• Jorge Urrutia (1905–1981), composer, influenced by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel

China

• Du Mingxin (born 1928), composer who collaborated on the ballet Red Detachment of Women
• Nie Er (1912–1935), wrote March of the Volunteers, the national anthem of the People's Republic of China
• Qu Xiao-Song (born 1952), composer, student of Du Mingxin
• Xian Xinghai (1905–1945), composer known for the Yellow River Cantata, a patriotic song during the Second Sino-Japanese War
• Xiao Shuxian (1905–1991), composer who blended elements of Chinese folk culture with Western techniques in her music

Colombia

• Jacqueline Nova (1935–1975), pioneer on experimental music and Colombian feminist movement.

Croatia

Cuba

• Hilario González (1920-1999)

Cyprus

• Nicolas Economou (1953–1993), composer and conductor

Czech Republic

• Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)
• Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst (1812–1865)

Denmark

• Niels Gade (1817–1890)
• Carl Nielsen (1865–1931)

Dominican Republic

• Luis Alberti (1906–1976) composer of Merengue music
• Charytín (born 1949), significant 1970s pop music composer
• Juan Luis Guerra (born 1957) significant contemporary merengue and pop ballad composer
• Johnny Pacheco (born 1935) composer of Salsa music
• Anthony Santos (born 1981) significant bachata composer
• Sandra Zaiter (born 1943) significant children's songs composer

Ecuador

• Mesías Maiguashca (born 1938)

Egypt

• Sayed Darwish (1892–1923)
• Mohamed El Qasabgi (1892–1966)
• Zakariya Ahmad (1896–1961)
• Mohammed Abdel Wahab (1901–1991)
• Riad Al Sunbati (1906–1981)

Estonia

• Arvo Pärt (born 1935)

Finland

France

• Yann Pierre Tiersen (23 June 1970-present)

Germany

Greece

• Jani Christou (1926–1970)
• Manos Hatzidakis (1925–1994)
• Manolis Kalomiris (1883–1962), classical composer. He was the founder of the Greek National School of Music.
• Stefanos Korkolis (born 1960)
• Nikolaos Lavdas (1879–1940)
• Nikolaos Mantzaros (1795–1872), composer of the Greek national anthem
• Yannis Markopoulos (born 1939)
• Thanos Mikroutsikos (1947–2019)
• Mimis Plessas (1924–2024)
• Nikos Skalkottas (1904–1945), member of the Second Viennese School
• Giannis Spanos (1934–2019)
• Mikis Theodorakis (1925–2021)
• Stavros Xarchakos (born 1939)
• Iannis Xenakis (1922–2001)
• Manos Loizos (1937–1982)
• Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou Vangelis (1943–2022)
• Eleni Karaindrou (1941-present)

Guatemala

• Ricardo Arjona (born 1964), modern pop composer

Haiti

• Nemours Jean-Baptiste (1918–1985) saxophonist, writer, composer and band leader of Conjunto International. He is credited with being the inventor of compas.
• Othello Bayard (1885–1971) musician, violinist, poet, and composer. Known for the patriotic song "Haïti Chérie".
• Carmen Brouard (1909–2005) pianist, composer and music educator.
• Frantz Casseus (1915–1993), guitarist and composer
• Issa El-Saieh (1919–2005), saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, composer, arranger, businessman, gallerist and art collector.
• Justin Elie (1883–1931), composer and pianist
• Nicolas Geffrard(1871–1930), musician and composer, best known for "La Dessalinienne", the Haitian national anthem.
• Alphonse Henriquez (1879–1955), composer.
• Lee Holdridge (born 1944), composer, conductor, and orchestrator
• Werner Jaegerhuber (1900–1953), composer.
• Occide Jeanty (1860–1936), composer, trumpeter, pianist and music director.
• Ludovic Lamothe (1882–1953), composer and virtuoso pianist.
• Lina Mathon-Blanchet (1903–1994), pianist, music teacher and composer.
• Michel Mauléart Monton (1855–1898), musician, pianist and composer. famous for the méringue classic, choucoune
• Widens Pkolo Dorsainville (born 1987), producer, actor and composer.
• Webert Sicot (1930–1985), saxophone player, composer and band leader. He is credited with being the inventor of Cadence rampa.
• Jean Bélony Murat (born 1979), composer and guitarist.
• Jean Jacques Clark Parent (Born 1951), writer, poet, composer, singer, playwright, novelist, and philosopher.

Hungary

• Béla Bartók (1881–1945), 20th-century composer, considered one of the founders of ethnomusicology
• Gábor Darvas (1911–1985), composer and musicologist
• Ernő Dohnányi (1877–1960), 20th-century composer, Variations on a Nursery Tune, Suite in F-sharp minor, Ruralia Hungarica
• Péter Eötvös (born 1944)
• Karl Goldmark (1830–1915), Romantic composer influenced by Richard Wagner
• Stephen Heller (1813–1888), Early Romantic composer and pianist
• Joseph Joachim (1831–1907)
• Zoltán Kodály (1882–1967), 20th-century composer and ethnomusicologist
• Rezső Kókai (1906–1962), composer and musicologist
• György Kurtág (born 1926), 20th-century composer
• Franz Lehár (1870–1948), 20th-century composer most known for The Merry Widow
• György Sándor Ligeti (1923–2006), 20th-century composer best known for the various pieces featured in the Stanley Kubrick films 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, and Eyes Wide Shut
• Franz Liszt (1811–1886), Romantic composer-pianist, wrote a number of tone poems and extended piano technique
• Ervin Nyiregyházi (1903–1987), romantic composer-pianist
• Miklós Rózsa (1907–1995), 20th-century composer, best known for his film music
• Tibor Szemző (born 1955), composer, performer and media artist
• Leo Weiner (1885–1960), 20th-century composer of the "Fox Dance"

Iceland

India

• M. Balamuralikrishna (1930–2016), carnatic music
• Clarence Barlow (1945–2023), contemporary art music
• Sandeep Bhagwati (born 1963), contemporary art music
• R.D. Burman (1939–1994), film composer, musician and singer
• Sachin Dev Burman (1906–1975), music composers for Hindi movies and a Bengali singer and composer
• Pritam Chakraborty (born 1971), film composer
• Salil Chowdhury (1922–1995), film music composer, western classical and folk fusion music writer and arranger
• Ilaiyaraja (born 1943), film composer, record producer, musician and singer
• Jatin–Lalit, music composer duo
• Khayyam (1927–2019), film composer
• Shirish Korde (born 1945), contemporary art music
• Bappi Lahiri (born 1952), film composer
• Laxmikant–Pyarelal, film composer duo
• Madan Mohan (born 1981), film composer, musician and singer
• Nadeem-Shravan, film composer duo
• Naushad (1919–2006), film composer
• O.P. Nayyar (1926–2007), film composer
• A. R. Rahman (born 1966 as Dilip), film composer, record producer, musician and singer
• Harris Jayaraj (born 8 July 1975), Indian film composer
• Yuvan Shankar Raja (born 1979), singer-songwriter, film score, and soundtrack composer
• Santhosh Narayanan (born 1983), Indian film composer
• Sean Roldan (born 1987), Indian musician
• Darbuka Siva (born 1982), Indian musician, director and actor
• Armaan Malik (born 1995), Indian composer, singer and songwriter
• Amaal Malik (born 1990), Indian composer, singer and songwriter
• Vivek-Mervin, Indian film composer duo
• Ravi (1926–2012), film composer
• Anirudh Ravichander (born 1990), singer, music director, film composer
• Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio of record producers, musicians, multi-instrumentalists
• Shankar Jaikishan, music composer duo
• Naresh Sohal (1939–2018), contemporary art music
• Amit Trivedi (born 1979), film composer
• Param Vir (born 1952), contemporary art music

Indonesia

• Otto Sidharta (born 1955), music composer
• Ananda Sukarlan (born 1968)

Iran

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Latvia

Liechtenstein

• Josef Rheinberger (1839–1901)

Lithuania

Luxembourg

• Jean-Marie Kieffer (born 1960)

North Macedonia

• Dimitrije Bužarovski (born 1952)
• Todor Skalovski (1909–2004)

Madagascar

• Raymond Razafimbahiny (1919–1963)

Malta

• Charles Camilleri (1931–2009), 20th century classical composer
• Carmelo Pace (1906–1993), music teacher and composer
• Robert Samut (1869–1934), composer of Malta's National Anthem, l-Innu Malti

Mexico

• Miguel Bernal Jiménez (1910–1956), 20th Century composer
• Julián Carrillo (1875–1965), discovered the 13th sound
• Ricardo Castro (1864–1907), composer and pianist
• Daniel Catán (1949–2011), composer of operas
• Carlos Chávez (1899–1978), 20th-century classical composer and conductor
• Jose Mariano Elizaga (1786–1842), composer and theoretician
• Manuel Enriquez (1926–1994), modern classical composer
• Julio Estrada (born 1943), composer and theoretician
• Blas Galindo (1910–1993), 20th-century composer
• María Grever (1884–1951), composer of romantic songs like "Júrame"
• Carlos Jiménez Mabarak (1916–1994), 20th century composer
• Agustin Lara (1897–1970), composer of romantic songs like Maria Bonita, Solamente una Vez, Granada, etc.
• Mario Lavista (born 1943), composer and writer
• Francisco López Capillas (1608–1674), composer of the Baroque
• Armando Manzanero (1935–2020), singer, pianist and composer of Boleros
• Arturo Márquez (born 1950), wrote Danzón No. 2
• José Pablo Moncayo (1912–1958), composer of "Huapango"
• Melesio Morales (1839–1908), composer of the opera Ildegonda
• Conlon Nancarrow (1912–1997), wrote for player piano
• Manuel María Ponce (1882–1948), 20th-century composer
• Silvestre Revueltas (1899–1940), 20th-century classical composer of Sensemayá
• Juventino Rosas (1868–1894), composer of vals "Sobre las olas"
• Manuel de Sumaya (1678–1755), composer of the Baroque
• Eugenio Toussaint (1954–2011), contemporary jazz and classical composer
• Consuelo Velázquez (1924–2005), wrote the song "Bésame Mucho"

Mongolia

Netherlands

• Michel van der Aa (born 1970), modern classical composer
• Hendrik Andriessen (1892–1981), classical composer of symphonies, songs and organworks
• Louis Andriessen (1939–2021), modern classical composer
• Henk Badings (1907–1987), classical composer of symphonic works, songs, electro-acoustical works
• Henriëtte Bosmans (1895–1952), classical composer of instrumental music and songs
• Jan Brandts Buys (1868–1933), composer of operas and chamber music
• Johannes van Bree (1801–1857), classical composer of symphonies, orchestral works, operas, songs, chamber music
• Lex van Delden (1919–1988), modern classical composer (symphonies, vocal music)
• Bernard van Dieren (1887–1936), composer of chamber music, symphonies, vocal works
• Cornelis Dopper (1870–1939), classical composer of symphonies, operas, concertos
• Rudolf Escher (1912–1980), classical composer of songs, symphonies, chamber music
• Carel Anton Fodor (1768–1846), classical composer of symphonies, concertos
• Jan van Gilse (1881–1944), classical composer of operas, symphonies, chamber music
• Pieter Hellendaal (1721–1799), classical composer of concerti grossi, chamber music, psalms and oratorios
• Elisabeth Kuyper (1877–1953), classical composer of orchestral works, concertos, chamber music, choral music, and songs
• Guillaume Landré (1905–1968), classical composer of vocal music, operas and symphonies
• Samuel de Lange (1840–1911), classical composer of operas, organ music, symphonic works, chamber music
• Fred Momotenko (born 1970), classical composer
• Leon Orthel (1905–1885), classical composer of symphonies and chamber music
• Willem Pijper (1894–1947), classical composer of chamber music, songs, symphonic works
• Julius Röntgen (1855–1932), classical composer of symphonies, concertos, chamber music, vocal works
• Leo Smit (1900–1943), classical composer of chamber music, songs, symphonic music
• Johannes Verhulst (1816–1891), classical composer of vocal music, symphonic works
• Matthijs Vermeulen (1888–1967), classical composer of symphonies and songs
• Alexander Voormolen (1895–1980), classical composer of chamber music, piano music and orchestral works
• Bernard Zweers (1854–1924), classical composer of vocal music, orchestral works and symphonies

New Zealand

• Gillian Bibby (born 1945)
• Jack Body (1944–2015)
• Ivan Bootham (1939–2016)
• Helen Bowater (born 1952)
• Dorothy Buchanan (born 1945)
• Edwin Carr (1926–2003), 20th century classical
• Lyell Cresswell (born 1944), 20th century classical
• Eve de Castro-Robinson (born 1956)
• Gareth Farr (born 1968)
• Sir Dean Goffin (1918–1984), brass band composer
• Peter Hobbs (born 1970)
• Fanny Howie (1868–1916), composer of "Hine E Hine"
• Mihi-ki-te-kapua (?–c. 1872), composer of waiata
• Douglas Lilburn (1915–2001)
• Andrew Perkins (born 1961)
• Robert J. Pope (1865–1949), songwriter
• John Psathas (born 1966), 20th century classical
• Rihi Puhiwahine Te Rangi-hirawea (?–1906), composer of waiata
• John Rimmer (born 1939)
• Anthony Ritchie (born 1960), 20th century classical
• Stephen Roche (born 1964), composer of film music
• Michael Smither (born 1939)
• Sir William Southgate (born 1941)
• Ronald Tremain (1923–1998), 20th century classical
• Peter van der Fluit (born 1963)
• Gillian Karawe Whitehead (born 1941)
• Michael Williams (born 1962), 20th century classical
• Kenneth Young (born 1955)
• Wayan Yudane, composer of Balinese music

Nigeria

• Joshua Uzoigwe (1946–2005), 20th century classical and Nigerian folk composer

Norway

• Torstein Aagaard-Nilsen (born 1964), composer
• Valter Aamodt (1902–1989), Norwegian composer and music critic
• Ole Bornemann Bull (1810–1880) was a Norwegian violinist and composer, wrote The Herdgirl's Sunday
• Edvard Grieg (1843–1907), Romantic composer, known for his incidental music for Peer Gynt and his Piano Concerto
• Agathe Backer Grøndahl (1847–1907), Romantic composer and pianist, contemporary of Edvard Grieg
• Kjell Habbestad (born 1955), Norwegian composer
• Johan Halvorsen (1864–1935), Norwegian composer, famous for Entry March of the Boyars and Passacaglia in G minor on a Theme by George Frideric Handel
• Hans Fredrik Jacobsen (born 1954)
• StÃ¥le Kleiberg (born 1958), classical composer and musicologist
• Herman Severin Løvenskiold (1815–1870), Romantic composer who wrote the score for the ballet La Sylphide
• Jan Erik Mikalsen (born 1979)
• Finn Mortensen (1922–1983), Norwegian composer, famous for bringing serialism and twelve-tone music to Norway
• Arne Nordheim (1931–2010), Norwegian composer, famous for bringing the modernism and electro acoustic music to Norway. Wrote Epitaffio for orchestra and tape, the ballet The Storm and Solitaire
• Marcus Paus (born 1979), Norwegian composer who writes tonal contemporary music and who has been described as a lyrical modernist
• Christian Sinding (1856–1941), Norwegian composer, wrote Rustle of Spring and the Suite for Violin and Orchestra
• Johan Svendsen (1840–1911), Norwegian composer of the Romance for Violin and Orchestra and 2 Symphonies
• Olav Anton Thommessen (born 1946), Norwegian composer, famous for "A Glass Bead Game"
• Lasse Thoresen (born 1949)
• Geirr Tveitt (1908–1981)
• Fartein Valen (1887–1952), Norwegian composer writing atonal polyphonic music. Famous for Le Cimetère Marin and the Violin Concerto

Pakistan

• Nisar Bazmi (1924–2007)

Peru

• Jaime Delgado Aparicio (1943–1983), contemporary jazz, pop and film score composer
• Jose Bernardo Alcedo (1788–1878), 19th-century Peruvian romantic composer, wrote the Peruvian National Anthem
• Daniel Alomía Robles (1871–1942), romantic composer, wrote El Cóndor Pasa
• Sadiel Cuentas (born 1973), contemporary composer
• Francisco González Gamarra (1890–1972), composer and painter
• Chabuca Granda (1920–1983), singer, contemporary and folk music composer
• Rafael Leonardo Junchaya (born 1965), contemporary composer
• Celso Garrido Lecca (1926–2025), contemporary composer
• Jimmy Lopez (born 1978), contemporary composer
• Clara Petrozzi (born 1965), contemporary composer
• Felipe Pinglo Alva (1899–1936), poet and songwriter, father of Música criolla
• Jorge Villavicencio Grossmann (born 1973), contemporary composer

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

• Alfredo Keil (1850–1907)
• Jaime Reis (born 1983)

Puerto Rico

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

Sri Lanka

Arul Sabesh (2025)

Sweden

• Lars-Erik Larsson (1908–1986)
• Johan Helmich Roman (1694–1758)
• Dag Wirén (1905–1986)

Switzerland

• Fritz Bovet (fl. 1845–1888), violinist, composed at least one string quartet (still in print), watchmaker, Swiss vice-counsel to Canton, China
• Caroline Charrière (1960–2018), composer, flautist, choir director
• Heinz Holliger (born 1939)
• Arthur Honegger (1892–1955)
• Frank Martin (1890–1974)
• Othmar Schoeck (1886–1957)
• Andreas Vollenweider (born 1953)

Taiwan

• Tyzen Hsiao (1938–2015)
• Liu Shueh-Shuan 劉學軒 (born 1969), 21st century contemporary classical composer

Turkey

• Ahmed Adnan Saygun (1907–1991)
• Ulvi Cemal Erkin (1906–1972)
• Cemal Reşit Rey (1904–1985)
• Hasan Ferit Alnar (1906–1978)
• Necil Kazım Akses (1908–1999)

United Kingdom

• Malcolm Arnold (1921–2006)
• Arnold Bax (1883–1953)
• Harrison Birtwistle (1934–2022)
• Arthur Bliss (1891–1975)
• John Blow (1649–1708)
• Frank Bridge (1879–1941)
• Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
• William Byrd (1540–1623)
• Eric Coates (1886–1957)
• Peter Maxwell Davies (1934–2016)
• Frederick Delius (1862–1934)
• John Dowland (1563–1626)
• John Dunstable (c. 1390–1453)
• Edward Elgar (1857–1934)
• George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)
• Gustav Holst (1874–1934)
• Herbert Howells (1892–1983)
• John Ireland (1879–1962)
• Hubert Parry (1848–1918)
• Henry Purcell (1659–1695)
• Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)
• Thomas Tallis (died 1585)
• Michael Tippett (1905–1998)
• Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
• William Walton (1902–1983)

United States

Ukraine

Uruguay

• Miguel del Águila (born 1957)

References

External links

• Union of Belgian Composers (in Dutch and French)
• Union of Bulgarian Composers