In essence

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Alexandre Tansman: Around the World in 15 Piano Miniatures
The French novelist, poet, and playwright Jules Gabriel Verne is frequently called the “Father of Science Fiction.” Verne collaborated with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel and issued a widely popular series of adventure novels that included Journey to the Center of
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Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): From Hero to Zero
It really is too bad that Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) did not have a large social network following! Throughout his long and industrious career, he wrote well over 3000 works. It’s no surprise that 18th-century critics unanimously considered him among
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Muses and Musings
Pauline Viardot and Frédéric Chopin
Located in the southern part of the historical province of Berry, south of the Loire Valley and west of Burgundy lies a region of gentle hills. And the village of Nohant, in the département of the Indre housed the family
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The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Lured out of retirement by a Chinese genius
Olivier Messiaen and Chen Qigang
Olivier Messiaen was long retired when he was introduced to a young Chinese composition student. Chen Qigang was born in Shanghai and raised by a family of artists. He began his musical studies at a very early age and was
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Corporal Brahms
Fest und Gedenksprüche, Op. 109
Born in Hamburg, Johannes Brahms was looking for a professional appointment in his native city early on. In fact, he applied for the directorship of the Hamburg Philharmonic Concerts in 1862 and again in 1867. The result was the same,
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Madness at the Lower Rhine Music Festival
The “Lower Rhine Music Festival” was founded in 1818 as the immediate result of a prodigious passion for music by an increasingly affluent middle class. This large choral and orchestral festival took place annually on Pentecost Sunday, with the venue
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Fritz Kreisler: King of the Violin
Violinist Fritz Kreisler was one of the great musical personalities of the early 20th century. An easy-going and charming personality combined with insightful interpretations and technical mastery to produce memorably recordings and live performances. Yet behind the immediate exterior of
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Musical Rugby
The game of Rugby was developed in English public schools in the 19th century, and none withstanding a number of regional variations, it involves running with an oval ball in hand. It is a contact team sport, and each team
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