Composer map

Our composer map is an interactive guide to the world from a musical point of view. There are so many composers out there, but where did they all come from? Surely they weren’t ALL born in Germany or Austria?! Some countries appear to have a more significant musical heritage than others, but you may discover your new favourite by venturing into unknown territory…

Like our timeline, our composer map focusses on Western classical music across the globe, but allows you to dive into more diverse and lesser-known areas. There’s a wealth of music from around the world for you to explore, from Mongolia to Mexico! We’re always revisiting the map to update countries in more detail with people we’ve missed, as well as adding our own discoveries, so keep checking back for updates. Although it would be impossible to include every composer in the world (especially in Europe and North America) we’d love to hear from you if you feel someone important is missing – simply head to our contact page and drop us a message.

Click on the blue dots below, which represent either a composer’s birthplace or a place with which they’re strongly associated. In areas with a high number of composers, map entries are grouped into clusters – click on these to zoom in and reveal the individual dots. For further information on a composer, you can click on their name under the image.  Bon voyage!