The viola may be the less flashy sibling of the violin, but in the hands of these seven great women composers, the viola truly shines as a solo instrument. From the bold modernism of Marga Richter and Peggy Glanville-Hicks to

The symphony is the blockbuster movie of classical instrumental music: big, bold, and meant to move audiences. The first symphonies were heard in eighteenth century salons and concert halls. Nowadays, thousands of them can be found on YouTube, with millions

Let’s be honest for a second, shall we? Most people would rather reorganise their tax receipts or alphabetise their spice cupboard than go to the dentist. Something about the bright lights, the mysterious whirr of instruments, and the vulnerability of

The double piano concerto is a musical form that is seen relatively rarely in the classical music world. This type of concerto features two piano soloists and two pianos placed at the front of the orchestra. Double piano concertos offer

Classical music history is full of near-misses. Some of the pieces that we love best spent decades, even centuries, forgotten in archives or suppressed by families. The rediscoveries of these classics sometimes only happened by chance or due to individuals’

Few musical forms have evolved as extensively as the waltz. It began as a rustic Austrian dance in triple meter, scandalous for bringing men and women together so physically close. By the 19th century, it had shaken off its early

Frédéric Chopin! The name alone conjures a sense of profound intimacy. His works for piano take us into a world of almost otherworldly beauty, with melodies that become as engaging as the human voice. The music can be fragile, dance-like

Violist Rebecca Clarke was one of the most talented British composers of the early twentieth century. Although she is best known for her viola sonata, she also wrote a number of other wonderful works. These often blend a late Romantic