January, 2019

51 Posts
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At the Center of the Musical Universe
Franz Schubert
In my humble opinion, the richness and subtlety of Franz Schubert’s (1797-1828) melodic and harmonic language is unequaled in the world of classical music. For one reason or another, we are led to believe that Schubert’s music was not popular
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Scheherazade for all Ages and Tastes
The emergence of the new media of television, cinema and radio in the 20th century brought Scheherazade into the mainstream of popular culture. Hollywood went into overdrive, and The Adventures of Prince Achmed of 1926, is the oldest surviving feature-length
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The Piano Concerto
Part 4 – Women Composers and More
“A woman must not wish to compose” – Clara Schumann Clara Schumann (then Clara Wieck, 1819-1896) began her Piano Concerto in A minor at the age of 13 and premièred it three years later at the Leipzig Gewandhaus under the
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Paralyzed by Imposter Syndrome? —When Will I Be Good enough?
No-one said becoming a musician is easy. It takes years of practice, discipline, and a unique personality—of humility, to convey the composer’s intention as best we can, and self-confidence, to walk onto the stage and play with panache. But no
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HÄSSLER, J.W.: 360 Preludes in All Major and Minor Keys / Fantaisie et Sonate, Op. 4 / Grande Sonate, Op. 26
Grande Sonate in E-Flat Major, Op. 26 I. Moderato From HÄSSLER, J.W.: 360 Preludes in All Major and Minor Keys / Fantaisie et Sonate, Op. 4 / Grande Sonate, Op. 26 (2017) Released by Grand Piano Hässler: Grande Sonate in
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Picture studies: Rachmaninoff’s Études-Tableaux Op. 33
Rachmaninoff composed his Opus 33 Études-Tableaux between August and September of 1911, the year after he completed his Opus 32 Preludes, and while the Opus 33 shares some stylistic points with the Preludes, the pieces are very unlike them. Rachmaninoff
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Mozart’s Musical Journey
3 January 1781: Idomeneo
On 3 January 1781, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his father from Munich, “My head and my hands are so fully occupied with my third act, that it would not be wonderful if I turned into a third act myself, for
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The Inspiration of Imagination – Fictional Characters in Music
Composers are inspired by the world, by their experiences, and by others’ imaginations. Novels and stories have been set by composers as everything from little piano pieces (here, Debussy was inspired by the Golliwog character in children’s book by Florence
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