Composer Robert Schumann, quintessential Romantic composer, is famous for embracing the era’s love of cross-pollinating music and literature. For years, he had trouble fully committing to either music or writing, and he drew inspiration from storytelling and literature throughout his

Composer Johannes Brahms is famous for the difficult romantic relationships he had with women. He was attracted to many women (especially singers), but ultimately found it impossible to envision any of them as his wife. He was also perpetually worried

Every year on 30 September, National Love People Day sneaks onto the calendar like a warm, fuzzy prank, daring us to ditch our grumpy cat impressions and spread some genuine human connection. It’s not about grand romantic gestures or tossing

Every September 29, we celebrate World Heart Day to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, which claims more lives than cancer and chronic respiratory diseases combined. And that’s the reason this special day isn’t just another calendar filler. World Heart Day

Chances are, if you’ve ever watched classical pianists on YouTube, you’ve probably seen a performance by Valentina Lisitsa. She has become one of the most frequently watched pianists on YouTube, building her audience over nearly twenty years, one view at

As we noted in part 1 of our overview of the best memoirs of the great composers, music isn’t the only kind of creative work that composers can make. Many have written autobiographies or memoirs, or sat for interviews that

When it comes to quirky holidays on the calendar, Love Note Day on September 26 deserves a standing ovation. It’s a charming little holiday dedicated to the art of expressing affection through the written word. In a world dominated by

When Frédéric Chopin died in 1849 at the age of thirty-nine, it was a major blow to the musical world. His colleague and contemporary, Franz Liszt, was especially shaken. To process the loss, Liszt began writing a tribute to his