Blogs

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What Is Wrong With Labeling Classical Music From Around the World as World Music?
Classical music is a term often used to describe traditional academic — also sometimes wrongly called, serious music. It is generally defined as the formal musical tradition of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk, jazz, or
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Beethoven, Franck and Romantic Dreams of the Counterpoint
With Warren Lee & Sylvia Chan
Two Hong Kong-born pianists explore and celebrate the inventiveness and brilliance of polyphony in a concert of works by Beethoven, Busoni, Brahms, Franck, and J.S. Bach, the supreme master of the art and craft of counterpoint. Warren Lee brings part
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Medieval Animal Musicians: Cats
Hidden in the decoration of medieval books are many different kinds of illustrations – some of them show people doing everyday things, others show animals doing everyday human things. And then, in some special ones, we see animals playing musical
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Cellists and Their Composers
The Bach Solo Suites: A Cellist’s Inspiration
The Bach Six Solo Cello Suites are considered a must for every cellist and when you look at lists of recordings of the Bach Suites they read like a who’s who of cellists. These pieces are an incredible inspiration and
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American Art
A Short Summery of American Classical Music and Its Leading Figures A recent visit to Los Angeles triggered the intensification of my curiosity of American art in general, but particularly American classical music. While quite aware of many American composers
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Dance, Dance, Dance: The Gavotte
Our Guide to The Gavotte Dance Coming from the area of the Gavot in Brittany, the gavotte is a dance in duple time usually of a moderate tempo. In the late 16th century, the Gavotte was usually associated with the
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The Animal Orchestra
CCOHK: WILD (The Musical)
We’ve seen a number of interesting responses to keeping ensemble vocal music alive during the COVID epidemic – Michael Ching’s Zoom Speed Dating Tonight! being one of them. The City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong (CCOHK), which has, like most
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Who Says Music Shouldn’t be Political?
Trailblazing Composer Jennifer Jolley
Composer, conductor, and professor person, Jennifer Jolley believes her music can and should address current and provocative subject matter such as political issues. Consider the 2017 piece The Eyes of the World Are Upon You. The titles of her works
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