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Art and Life Are Not Two Separate Things
The statement in the title of this article was made by Felix Mendelssohn. In his short life of just 38 years, Mendelssohn left his mark on the art world with compositions that are still highly popular today. His music was
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The Difficulty With Mozart
“The sonatas of Mozart are unique; they are too easy for children, and too difficult for artists.” ― Artur Schnabel Artur Schnabel Plays Mozart’s Piano sonata K.333 On the page the piano music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart looks simple (but
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A Guide to Music Appreciation
This article has been written in reaction to hearing “I don’t like this [enter instrument, genre, artist etc.]” too often. As a composer, diversity in music is equal to the painter’s, who constantly seeks for new colours, or the chef’s
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Finding Meaning in Music
Meaning in music is elusive — in fact, there are those who have said that music has no meaningAlan Gilbert, conductor Must we always find “meaning” in music? Why can’t our listening experience simply be one of absorbing the sounds
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Guy Mintus
Electrifying Israeli Jazz Pianist, Composer, and Vocalist
Last year, I was invited to perform during a special week of commemoration and celebration upon the 100th birthday of Leonard Bernstein, and the 70th anniversary of his appearance at the Displaced Persons camp in Landsberg, Germany. It’s a picturesque,
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How Good is the Harpsichord?
Jean Rondeau records ‘Vertigo’ for harpsichord Asking whether the harpsichord is the greatest instrument ever, is like asking can fish swim? Now that I’ve answered my own question, here are 10 reasons why the harpsichord is the greatest instrument ever.
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Mysterious Mountains and Visionary Landscapes
The Music of Alan Hovhaness
“I’ve always listened to my own voice. I was discontented with the kind of music that everyone said I should write – all clever and dissonant, intellectualised. I wanted to write music that was deeply felt, music that would move
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Civil Disobedience in Music
A lonely and brave act of civil disobedience can have momentous consequences. In 1955, the seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat in a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus to a white man. Parks remembered, “Two policemen came on
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