In English, ‘the hunt’ means fox hunting, otherwise, it’s shooting (birds) or stalking (deer). In Europe in the 18th century, hunting, usually for deer, was a sport enjoyed by the upper classes, and there was specific music for different parts

Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky composed well over 100 romanzas written for voice with piano accompaniment. These songs enjoyed considerable popularity, however they also attracted some criticism. The Russian composer and music critic César Cui, for example, denounced them for failing to

Gustav Mahler was born in 1860 in Jihlava, present-day Czech Republic. He became one of his generation’s most famous symphonists. Here are a few facts about Mahler’s life and career: Mahler is best known for his symphonic works, which are

The romanzas of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), perhaps surprisingly, have not been accorded the high rank bestowed on his ballets and symphonies. The Russian composer César Cui wrote, “Tchaikovsky viewed poetry as a necessary evil that only hindered the process

Felix Mendelssohn was born in 1809 in Hamburg, Germany. He became one of the most dazzling talents in classical music history and helped to lay the ground for classical music’s Romantic Era. Here are a few facts about his life

When we say ‘Magic’ in reference to music, we think of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, or perhaps Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. There are other magics out in the world of music, all of which take us to a different place

Frédéric Chopin was one of the most influential classical musicians of the nineteenth century. Many composers clamored to dedicate their own work to Chopin as a sign of their admiration and respect. Even after his death, composers still dedicated works

For centuries, composers have been writing classical music about death. In fact, death and dying have inspired some of the saddest works of classical music ever written. Today we’re looking at the stories behind fifteen pieces of classical music about