Specific cities have inspired a huge amount of classical music over the years. Today, we’re looking at a selection of classical works explicitly connected to major cities, examining how each composer responded to each place. Some pieces reflect civic pride
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The Melody of Death: The Dies Irae August 30th, 2022 Composers make up melodies all the time and create new and innovative pieces to show off those talents. Occasionally, though, they go back to older melodies, even melodies that they may not have written, and use them to make a -
Playing the Cello: The Best Icebreaker August 29th, 2022 You’ve probably heard the cello on numerous occasions either because you love its deep baritone sounds or because the cello is used whenever someone dies in a movie. The cello—its vibrant sounds so close to the human voice—is the perfect -
On This Day
29 August: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla Was Born August 29th, 2022Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla is, without doubt, one of the most in demand conductors and music directors of our times. Gentle, strong, calm and self-confident, she proudly says, “The only thing that could ever stop me is my own lack of imagination.” -
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and His Circle of Friends August 28th, 2022 To his extensive entourage, fellow colleagues, and large circle of friends, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was “a sweet and caring man, full of excellent manners.” Yet in his own words, the composer considered himself almost antisocial. “By nature, I am a -
Cathedrals in Sound August 28th, 2022 Composers’ Inspirations From Imaginary, Ruined and Monumental Cathedrals At the heart of every major European city is the cathedral. A cathedral is more than a mere church, it contains the cathedra, i.e., the seat of a bishop. A cathedral is -
On This Day
28 August: Bohuslav Martinů Died August 28th, 2022Escaping Nazi oppression, Bohuslav Martinů found refuge in the United States. Struggling financially and eternally homesick, Martinů started to set folk song texts that became a symbolic connection to his beloved homeland. Dejected dreamlike vision of peace and the longing -
Opera Doctors – The 19th Century, Part II August 27th, 2022 As we progress further into the 19th century, doctors (be they medical or learned) become more than just figures of fun. In the last article, we saw doctors becoming major characters, if not the central character. In 1850 and beyond, -
René Magritte (1898-1967)
“Making Poetic Images Visible” August 27th, 2022One of the most enduringly influential members of the Surrealist movement René Magritte is best known for his illusionistic images that challenged the viewer’s preconceptions of reality. Magritte once said, “my painting is visible images which conceal nothing; they evoke