Credit: Classical Music Humor on Facebook

There’s a special nobility to B-flat Major. Open and expressive, it’s regarded as an uplifting key, full of hope and aspiration. The first movements of Bach’s Partita No.1, and Schubert’s final piano sonata share this openness and nobility. Meanwhile, Beethoven’s

The piano was Ludwig van Beethoven’s favourite instrument. He was a virtuoso at the keyboard, and his compositions for piano “became a vehicle for experimenting not only with the fundamental aspects and techniques of music, but also a means of

“It is no coincidence that the literature of ‘original compositions’ for four hands is limited to this period….its true master is Schubert.” Quoted from Theodor Adorno’s article, “Four Hands, Once Again.” Music for piano four hands came to popularity almost

The clarinet often feels a bit left out when sitting next to its windy friends in the orchestra. There they all are, the flute, oboe, and bassoon, sitting high and mighty, all firm fixtures in the group when the new

1. You’ll recognize the work, since this is the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, but who’s performing it? • Is this Fritz Reiner leading the Chicago in a large, old-style recording? • Is this John Eliot Gardiner and