November, 2018

51 Posts
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Music and Nature
Time of Day: Evening
Evening music sets us up for relaxing, slowing down the day, or does it? Some composers see the evening as a time for quiet time and others note that not every evening ends quietly.
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Adventures in Interpretation
There is so much in music that is subjective and open to personal taste and interpretation. In order for us to play convincingly, we have to develop an interpretation that is meaningful TO US vivid in all its details. Unless
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When Cellists Rush Their Cellos to Intensive Care
Accidents happen. If I trip while carrying my cello I make a split-second decision—save the cello, never mind breaking an arm! Sometimes, no matter what we do, our precious stringed instruments are damaged and we rush, heartbroken, to expert cello
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Verdi: La Forza del Destino
Premiered Today in 1862
Around the middle of the 19th century, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) commanded the Italian opera scene. As one of the most celebrated composers in history, opera companies from all corners of the globe were asking for new works, or at least
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SAINT-SAËNS, C.: Cello and Orchestra Works – Cello Concertos Nos. 1, 2 / Suite in D Minor / Romance
Suite in D Minor, Op. 16bis IV. Romance From SAINT-SAËNS, C.: Cello and Orchestra Works – Cello Concertos Nos. 1, 2 / Suite in D Minor / Romance (2017) Released by Naxos Saint-Saëns: Suite in D Minor, Op. 16bis –
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Georg Solti Accademia Di Bel Canto At Castiglione Della Pescaia, Italy
I had just completed my final set of opera scenes for the academic year at the Royal Academy of Music and was absolutely looking forward to visiting Italy for a good long month to be a part of the incredible
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Brahms: Vier Ernste Gesänge, Op. 121
Premiered Today in 1896
On 7 May 1896, Johannes Brahms celebrated his 63rd birthday. His friends had organized a little party, and Brahms announced, “I gave this to myself as a gift today. Yes, to myself! If you read the text, you shall grasp
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The Power of Silence in Takemitsu’s Rain Tree Sketch II
Tōru Takemitsu was a composer, but he was also a writer on aesthetics and musical theory. His music is delicate and refined, as beautiful as Hokusai print or a carved jade netsuke. Largely self-taught, his music combines elements of Japanese
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