New Year’s Resolutions From the Great Composers

These composers remind us that greatness is built as much on character, discipline, and perseverance as it is on genius.

What were these famous composers thinking as they approached a new year. SeventyFour/Shutterstock

Few of the great composers left behind written statements that we would explicitly label as a New Year’s resolution. Some did keep diaries or make statements that approximated this practice, though. Others exemplified resolutions through their behavior.

Five famous composers modeled a personal commitment to self-improvement—or at least tried to:

The Importance of Routine: Johann Sebastian Bach