These four great composers
Lived in the eighteenth century
When the music was baroque and classical
And the purpose was God's glory.
Antonio Vivaldi
Was called the red-haired priest.
He was born in Venice, Italy,
The city on the Adriatic Sea.
He wrote "The Four Seasons"
And other concertos for the crowd.
He was a violin virtuoso,
And recited psalms aloud.
Johann Sebastian Bach-
From a musical family-
Himself had twenty children
In his homeland of Germany.
He wrote the Brandenberg Concerto
And over 1000 pieces that he penned.
He wrote "Jesu Juva" to begin
And "Soli Deo Gloria" at the end.
George Frideric Handel
Was a composer at only eight.
For King George's coronation
He wrote "The Water Symphony" to celebrate.
The king bade him stand and play again
For the music was so good.
But when Handel performed "The Messiah"
It was the king who stood.
Franz Josef Haydn
The Father of Symphony
Was a practical joker
As in his "Surprise Symphony!"
The second of seventeen children,
He lived in Austria as a boy
He wrote beautiful music for he said
The Creator gave him joy.