In essence

1706 Posts
archive-post-image
Like Father like Son!
Johann Sebastian and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Trio Sonata in A minor, Wq. 148, H. 572 I have always wondered what it must have been like to grow up as the son of Johann Sebastian Bach. The old man was known around town
Read more
archive-post-image
In Praise of the Fat One!
Ignaz Schuppanzigh
Teaching must be one of the most hazardous professions worldwide. And I am not necessarily talking about public schools in Angola, Los Angeles or the Bronx. Nor am I talking about bulletproof glass, metal detectors or semi-automatic weapons. There are
Read more
archive-post-image
Folk Music of the Future
When we think of folk music, we often think of music that is far removed from what we do in daily life. So how do you modernize something that is considered to exist almost out of time – we rarely
Read more
archive-post-image
Johannes Brahms, Piano Quartet No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 60
In 1853, with a stack of original compositions in his backpack, Johannes Brahms (1833-1896) finally found enough courage to visit his musical hero Robert Schumann. Their brief encounter prompted Schumann to pen his famous article “Neue Bahnen” (New Paths) —
Read more
archive-post-image
Thinking About Notation
Time marches on and in music, you have to keep track of it. Before we get to time signatures, we have to talk about notation of pitch duration, i.e., how long is a note? In yet another example of a
Read more
archive-post-image
That’s Padre Pedrini to you and I!
Teodorico PedriniViolin Sonata in A Major, Op. 3, No. 1, “Nepridi” My editor keeps reminding me that my quiz questions are just too simple and too easy! “What’s the use of having a quiz if everybody instantly knows the answer?”
Read more
archive-post-image
Have a Musical Christmas!
Read more
archive-post-image
Jingle that Bell!
First published as “The One Horse Open Sleigh” in 1857, “Jingle Bells” has become one of the most recognized and best-loved Christmas songs. Originally, however, it was neither connected with Christmas nor was it commercially successful. Only after the composer
Read more