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Hear the Voices of the Great American Composers: Gershwin, Barber, and More
Ever wonder what the greatest American composers really thought about music, creativity, and the world around them? We’ve gathered interviews with eight American composers, giving you a front-row seat to observe their personalities in conversation. From Howard Hanson’s (timely!) warning
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Exploring Beethoven with Claudio Arrau (Born on February 6, 1903)
A Journey in Sound and Spirit
Claudio Arrau (1903–1991) stands among the towering figures of 20th-century pianism. Celebrated for an expansive repertoire and deeply philosophical approach, Arrau’s name is inexorably linked to the piano sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven. Arrau’s journey through these works, especially his
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Ludwig van Beethoven: Five of His Most Famous Feuds
Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the greatest composers who ever lived, but he was also a human being, and one who was famously prickly. Friends, rivals, patrons, and even family members often found themselves embroiled in sundry fights and
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Friedrich Cerha at 100 (Born on February 17, 1926)
Modern Music as Living History
On 17 February 2026, we celebrate the centenary of the birth of Friedrich Cerha (1926-2023). He was an Austrian composer, conductor, teacher, and interpreter whose nearly eight-decade career made him a decisive figure in post-war European music. His work bridged
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The Enduring Melody: The Significance of Childhood Piano Memories
Do you remember the first piece of music you learnt as a child? The journey of learning to play the piano is a great deal more than the acquisition of a skill; it’s a wonderful voyage of memory and emotion.
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George Lloyd: The Shellshocked Soldier Who Kept Composing
British composer George Lloyd had one of the most striking biographies of any classical musician of the twentieth century. He began his career as a promising up-and-coming English composer. But when Britain went to war in 1939, Lloyd put that
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Felix Mendelssohn at the Piano (Born on February 3, 1809)
10 Deeply Reflective Works
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) is often painted as the polite and well-mannered Romantic. We certainly know him as the composer of fairy wings, sparkling scherzos, and elegant melodies. But as soon as you spend a little time at the piano with
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Deaf-Blind Pianist Helen May Martin: How She Became a Professional Musician
Nineteenth-century piano giant Jan Paderewski called her “the most wonderful musician in the world.” Helen Keller called her “the most accomplished deaf and blind person in the world.” She was, to our knowledge, the first blind-deaf person to make a
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