Final answer:
In Viennese society, musicians and composers ranged from serving the aristocracy during the Classical period to reaching wider middle-class audiences in the Romantic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of musicians and composers in Viennese society has been influenced by various social developments and cultural changes across different periods such as the Classical and Romantic eras. During the Classical period, composers like Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven played a significant role in providing music for the aristocracy and a relatively small, upper-class audience. As time progressed into the Romantic era, the rise of the middle class and the increasing demand for music in public concerts and festivals led to broader audiences and the spread of musical influence.
Later Romantic composers, while continuing to emulate classical forms, also expanded the expressive potential of music and frequently challenged their audiences with new styles and ideas. Composers like Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner are well-known from this era. In contrast, the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg's atonal music marked a radical departure from western musical traditions, influencing avant-garde musicians more than mainstream music listeners.
The influence of musicians and composers extended beyond entertainment, as they played a part in shaping cultural and patriotic identity, especially during times of conflict. Additionally, cities like Vienna become cultural hubs due to patronage from ruling families such as the Habsburgs, who greatly supported the arts, further solidifying the role of musicians and composers in society.