In a previous article, Maurice Ravel as a Young Man, we followed the story of Ravel’s early life and first forays into the world of professional composition. We left off at the turn of the century, with twenty-five-year-old Ravel poised

Composer Ludwig van Beethoven loved to push music to its limits, both technically and emotionally. How exactly did he do it? He employed a variety of methods, but he especially enjoyed using driving rhythms and intense dynamic contrasts (i.e., quickly

Today, Johannes Brahms is considered a towering figure in 19th-century music, and his symphonies are a cornerstone of the classical repertoire. However, his music enjoyed a rather complex and evolving reception, especially in the Anglo-American world. In Britain and the

From the time the piano became a popular instrument in the mid-eighteenth century, thousands of accomplished women pianists have taken to the stage. So many women have done so that it’s impossible to make an objective list of the ten

Countless musicians have composed music, but only a tiny handful have become canonized greats. What might these individuals with vastly different backgrounds share in common? Today, we’re looking at the backgrounds of fifteen beloved composers, from Johann Sebastian Bach (born

On 15 June, in some parts of the world, we honour a true superhero. He doesn’t wear a cape, and he’s bravely fought off monsters, mostly spiders. Father’s Day honours a hero who never misses a chance to say, “Money

Pachelbel’s Canon in D is one of the most recognisable pieces of classical music ever written, heard in countless films, on streaming playlists, and at weddings. But the Canon wasn’t always so famous. For generations, it languished in obscurity, just

Human beings are endlessly creative: for at least 60,000 years, we’ve been finding weird and wonderful ways to make sound. Learn about some of these lesser-known sonic devices, delving into realms of history, culture, and myth. The Aulos The aulos