December, 2013

36 Posts
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Jingle that Bell!
First published as “The One Horse Open Sleigh” in 1857, “Jingle Bells” has become one of the most recognized and best-loved Christmas songs. Originally, however, it was neither connected with Christmas nor was it commercially successful. Only after the composer
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Metrono-no?
If there’s one thing that divides opinions almost as equally as it divides beats per minute, it’s the metronome. Its controversy began right since its inception in the early 19th century, and remains a highly contentious topic for many musicians.
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70 Children and Counting!
Cardinal Ottoboni and Arcangelo Corelli
Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6, No. 1 By all accounts, Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni — grandnephew of Pope Alexander VIII —loved “pomp, prodigality and sensual pleasure.” Apparently, portraits of his mistresses disguised as saints, including the angelic Margarita Pio
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Sacred Choral Works by Samuel Sebastian Wesley
O give thanks unto the Lord From Sacred Choral Works by Samuel Sebastian Wesley (2013) Released by Chandos Samuel Sebastian Wesley: O give thanks unto the LordSAMUEL SEBASTIAN WESLEY (1810 – 1876) Son of the composer and organist Samuel Wesley,
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The Hungarians and Chinese are related
— The Pentatonic Scale
“But I don’t want to practice scales! They’re boring!” Have you heard this complaint from your students? Or perhaps you have said it yourself? When I was a young student I became enamored of playing them — really! I knew
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Corelli goes Viral!
The Italian ensemble sonata — in the mold established by Arcangelo Corelli — took Europe by storm. It was soon imitated and adapted by composers far and wide, and Corelli himself brought the genre to England. John Jenkins, Henry Purcell
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Jan Lisiecki
Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki is one of the most exciting musicians of generation. The recent recipient of a Gramophone Young Artist of the year award and fresh from his debut disc of Chopin’s Ètudes, he maintains a busy performing schedule
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Music and Religion:
Agnus Dei: Grant us Peace
In the late 7th century, a chant associated with the breaking of the community bread was added to the Ordinary of the Roman Mass. The name of this new chant “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) originates in the Gospel of
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