August, 2013

26 Posts
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Playing Second Fiddle
Giovanni Battista Sammartini: Symphony in A major, J-C 65 Franz Josef Haydn: String Quartet No. 31 in B minor, Op. 33, No. 1 Between 1715 and 1735, Alain-René Lesage published his 4-volume novel L’Histoire de Gil Blas de Santillane (The
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Salutations From Composer to Composer
Just like the rest of the world composers may or may not get along with each other; and they may or may not like each other’s music. In fact, insults sometimes fly. “He’d be better off shoveling snow,” said Richard
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The Adventures of Benji
Britten and the Boys
It is a rather thankless task to write about Benjamin Britten in the context of a column entitled “In Love.” His long-time relationship with the tenor Peter Pears, which is clearly a love story, is not the issue and I
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Britten and Tippett – Two Kinds of Englishman
One of the most enjoyable musical experiences of my life has been performing Sir Michael Tippett’s extraordinary oratorio A Child of our Time with the chorus and orchestra of Clare College, Cambridge. Famous especially because of the series of five
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A Bridge to Europe
Britten, Bridge, and Schoenberg
Edith Rhoda Britten, née Hockley was an ambitious woman. When she discovered that her son Benjamin had outstanding musical talents, she not only provided him with his first piano lessons and instructions in rudimentary musicianship, she also was convinced that
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Balakirev – Complete Piano Works Vol. 1 Piano Sonatas
Piano Sonata in B flat minor III. Intermezzo: Larghetto Nicholas Walker From Balakirev – Complete Piano Works Vol. 1 Piano Sonatas (2013) Released by Grand Piano Balakirev: Piano Sonata in B flat minor – III. Intermezzo: Larghetto About M. A.
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Julius Harrison
Part-time Composer Julius Harrison: Viola Sonata in C minor Traditionally, composers had a rather difficult time to earn a living practicing their art. A good many of them had to take a day job to actually make a living. Gustav
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Living with Handel
Bach : Saint John PassionPart I: Chorale: Herr, unser Herrscher (Chorus) I am for the first time in my life living with Handel. I lived with Bach earlier this year, when I was involved in performances of his St John
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