2009 is a year of anniversaries of four of the greatest ever classical composers. To help you celebrate, Bachtrack is publishing a feature on each to help you celebrate: there's articles, links to concerts and CDs, lists of events, guides to places and a page of Haydn trivia to surprise you!

Henry
Purcell
1659-1695

The bridge from early music to the baroque

George Frideric
Handel
1685-1759

Baroque master in Germany and England

Joseph
Haydn
1732-1809

Innovator who changed musical form forever

Felix
Mendelssohn
1809-1847

Child prodigy, conductor and hero of romanticism

As well as the "big four" anniversaries, 2009 also has anniversaries of several others whose music is performed less often but who were highly influential in advancing the music of their country, including three of the greats of classical guitar. Here are some features on them, considerably less comprehensive.

And finally, here is one that is more obscure but is a great story and yet another opportunity to see unique music.