Blogs

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Move Over, Mozart: 8 Astonishing Classical Era Child Prodigies
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart may be the most famous musical child prodigy of the Classical Era, but he was by no means the only one. Today, we’re looking at other musicians from Mozart’s lifetime who were also celebrated child prodigies. Many
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How the Women in Mendelssohn’s Family Changed Classical Music Forever
Felix Mendelssohn is often credited as the man who popularised Johann Sebastian Bach. Although he mounted important performances of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, leading to a Bach revival, Felix was not the only member of his family who made this
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Around the World With Contemporary Music
I consider myself a fortunate man, because I often get what I wish for. When “dream come true” serves merely as a polite greeting for others, it somehow works for me: though only in matters of location rather than romance.
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How Did Chopin Influence These Eight Great Composers?
Frédéric Chopin is one of the most influential composers in classical music history. Best known for his piano works – especially his nocturnes, mazurkas, polonaises, waltzes, and preludes – Chopin transformed the piano into a vehicle for searing lyricism and
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Music History in Limericks IV
A set of short anonymous poems in Boston’s Musical Herald did a poetical job of setting out the history in limericks, along with unique rhyming spellings. We started in the 18th century with Gluck and then Haydn, and then looked
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The Greatest Composers Who Worked for Royalty, Part 2
For centuries, many composers relied on royal patronage to make a living. Courts provided not only financial support but also a built-in audience, prestige, and much-needed stability. In France, Jean-Baptiste Lully rose from humble Italian beginnings to become one of
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Seven of the Most Popular Symphony Videos on YouTube
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
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Music History in Limericks III
A set of short anonymous poems in Boston’s Musical Herald did a poetical job of setting out the history in limericks, along with unique rhyming spellings. We started in the 18th century with Gluck and then Haydn, and then looked
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