Unconscious bursts of creativity that engender significant artistic endeavors are not necessarily inspired by passionate romantic love alone. Greek mythology believed that this kind of stimulus came from nine muses, the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. Muses were long considered the source of knowledge embodied in poetry, lyric songs and ancient myths. Throughout the history of Western art, artists, writers and musicians have prayed to the muses, or alternately, drawn inspiration from personified muses that conceptually reside beyond the borders of earthly love. True to life, however, composer inspiration has emerged from the entire spectrums of existence and being. Nature has always played a decidedly important role in the inspiration of various classical composers, as did exotic cities, landscapes or rituals. Composer inspiration is also found in poetry, the visual arts, and mythological stories and tales. Artistic, historical or cultural expressions of the past are just as inspirational as is the everyday: the third Punic War or the contrapuntal mastery of Bach is inspirationally just as relevant as are the virulent bat and camel. Composer inspiration is delightfully drawn from heroes and villains, scientific advances, a pet, or something as mundane as a hangover. Discover what fires the imagination of people who never stop asking questions.
It’s that quiet time of the day. The day is ending, and the sun sets, leaving the sky filled with colour. Of course, in the winter, for those in northern climes, this happens far too early, and for those even
For some composers, the piano is a difficult instrument for which to compose. As one writer said, it’s more like a piece of ‘finely tuned machinery’ than a subtle instrument like the voice. For Danish composer Bent Sørensen (b. 1958),
As the days draw in, twilight becomes a special time of the day – the light is going, and the dark is coming, but we’re between the two times. The sky may flame with colour, and the trees around us
From the very beginning, the idea of flight has intrigued composers, whether they’re writing about Icarus or the Wright Brothers. We’ll look at some music inspired by planes – some positive and some less so. George Antheil, who brought a
They come down one at a time. You can brush them away, but still they come. If it’s cold enough, they start to pile up, gathered together by the wind in the corners where they catch, and then, all of
The 12 months of the calendar year are a fascinating inspiration for composers. Every month is different, and the developing characters of the changing seasons provide a springboard for so many musical ideas. American composer Judith Lang Zaimont (b. 1945)
Some of the most iconic orchestral works in the repertoire owe their character or even existence to women supporters. Today, we’re looking at eight of the best orchestral works dedicated to women and the stories behind them all. Liszt: Les
In the world of classical music, dedications can serve as a window into a composer’s life, telling us who they cared about or who they wanted to impress…or both. Today, we’re looking at the best piano sonatas dedicated to women
