







The Most Famous
Composers from Belgium
Top 10 Belgian Composers
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Belgians Composers of all time. This list of famous Belgians Composers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Belgians Composers.
- #1

Orlande de Lassus
1534 - 1594
HPI 79.9254 langsOrlande de Lassus was a Franco-Flemish composer who was most famous for his polyphonic chansons.
- #2

Guillaume Du Fay
1397 - 1474
HPI 79.1254 langsGuillaume du Fay is most famous for being the first composer to write polyphonic music.
- #3

César Franck
1822 - 1890
HPI 76.6352 langsCésar Franck is most famous for his Symphony in D Minor.
- #4

André Grétry
1741 - 1813
HPI 72.2337 langsAndré Grétry is most famous for his operas. He was born in 1741 in Liège, Belgium and died in 1813 in Paris, France.
- #5

Johannes Ockeghem
1410 - 1497
HPI 72.2242 langsJohannes Ockeghem is most famous for his chansons, which are a type of polyphonic vocal music.
- #6

Adrian Willaert
1490 - 1562
HPI 71.1235 langsAdrian Willaert was a composer, music theorist, and organist. He is most famous for his contribution to the madrigal.
- #7

Henri Vieuxtemps
1820 - 1881
HPI 70.7735 langsHenri Vieuxtemps is most famous for being one of the most prominent violinists of the 19th century. He was born in Belgium and studied in...Read moreShow less
Henri Vieuxtemps is most famous for being one of the most prominent violinists of the 19th century. He was born in Belgium and studied in Paris. He was a professor at the Brussels Conservatory and a member of the Royal Academy of Music in London.
- #8

Gilles Binchois
1400 - 1460
HPI 69.6036 langsGilles Binchois is most famous for his work in the 15th century. He was a composer and a singer, and he was also an important figure in the...Read moreShow less
Gilles Binchois is most famous for his work in the 15th century. He was a composer and a singer, and he was also an important figure in the Burgundian School.
- #9

Jacob Obrecht
1457 - 1505
HPI 69.4531 langsJacob Obrecht is most famous for being a painter, draftsman, and etcher. He was born in the Netherlands in 1659 and died in 1717.
- #10

Eugène Ysaÿe
1858 - 1931
HPI 69.2338 langsEugène Ysaÿe is most famous for his compositions for violin and piano, including the "Violin Sonata in D minor" and the "Sonata for Violin...Read moreShow less
Eugène Ysaÿe is most famous for his compositions for violin and piano, including the "Violin Sonata in D minor" and the "Sonata for Violin and Cello."
People by Birth Decade
Browse notable Belgians Composers grouped by birth decade. Each decade shows the top 10 by HPI; expand to see everyone.
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Overlapping Lives
Which Composers were alive at the same time? This visualization shows the lifespans of the 13 most globally memorable Composers since 1700.





















