In the field of program music, stories from Greek myths are especially popular. French composer Augusta Holmès (1847–1903), was born in Paris, but was not permitted to attend the Paris Conservatoire because she was not a citizen of France (she

Welsh composer Grace Williams (1906–1977) grew up in a Welsh-speaking household that had music at its core. Williams’ father, William, was a schoolteacher and also conductor of the Romily Boys’ Choir, for which Grace was accompanist. The choir appeared not

Doing transcriptions, particularly for the piano, is more than just writing the same notes for a different instrument. Each instrument has its idiosyncratic elements, be it only being able to play one or two notes at the same time or

In this brilliant, luscious recording by soprano Claire Booth and pianist Andrew Matthews-Owen, we’re given songs circulating in Paris in 1913. Debussy and Ravel are both looking at the poetry of Stéphane Mallarmé (1842–1898). The symbolist poet set the two

The British composer William Busch (1901–1945) studied music internationally. His first music lessons were in the US, followed by piano and music lessons in Berlin. In May 1924, he returned to London, where he had piano lessons with Benno Moiseiwitsch

Antonín Dvořák’s time in America (1892–1895) was brief but important, not only helping him break into a more modern style but also helping American composers look inward for inspiration and not towards Europe. His String Quartet No. 12, nicknamed the

British composer Gavin Higgins (b. 1983) credits his youth in the Forest of Dean for his unique sound of music, combining nature and music. The Forest of Dean occupies the borderland between Wales and England, so as much as the

Icelandic violinist Sif Margrét Tulinius commissioned three works in 2020 and presents them on this new recording from Ulysses Arts. The three composers, Hjálmar H. Ragnarsson, Hugi Guðmundsson, and Viktor Orri Árnason, had their works presented in the concert series