Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) achieved fame and position as a composer building on a basis of a firm understanding of the art of composition. He came from a musical family – his father, Feodor Stravinsky, was a celebrated opera singer and

Armenian composer Nikoghayos Tigranian (1856-1951) was one of the first generation of composers in Armenia. Joined by others who were folk-music collectors, they laid the foundation for the Armenian national style. He lost his sight to smallpox at age 9

Considered during his lifetime the premier symphonist of the day, Joachim Raff (1822-1882) has now virtually vanished from our concert stages. He was encouraged by Mendelssohn and his scores, sent to his publisher by Mendelssohn, got the approval of Robert

The Spanish violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate (1844-1908) entered the Paris Conservatoire at age 12, won first prize in violin at age 15, first prize for solfège the next year, and won the prize for harmony in 1859. That same

Adolf von Henselt (1814-1889) was one of a number of exceptional pianists who all were born in the second decade of 19th century: Chopin (1810-1849), Robert Schumann (1810-1856), Clara Schumann (1819-1896), Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871), Franz Liszt (1811-1886). A classical child

In 1908, at the end of his 4 years of study in Vienna with Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern (1883-1945) wrote his Passacaglia, Op. 1. The passacaglia was invented in the early 17th century in Spain, but first found its way

When asked in an interview what the title of his violin concerto, Tiefenrausch, meant to him, German composer Christian Jost (b. 1963) said it was both his manifesto and a confession. The word refers to the effect of nitrogen on

American composer Richard Danielpour (b. 1956), while working outside New York in Seattle and in Taos, New Mexico, had time to reconsider if he wanted to return to New York City. It’s big, it’s dirty, there’s 7 million other people