The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
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Musical Definitions with a Twist April 30th, 2022 John Parry’s Manual of Musical Terms and Various Other Subjects Connected with Music Art The English actor, pianist, artist, comedian, songwriter and singer John Orlando Parry (1810-1879) started his career as a singer, harpist, and pianist. He knew and sang -
Musicians and Artists: Antheil and Brâncuși April 29th, 2022 George Antheil: The Golden Bird Slimmed down to just a shadow of a profile, the Golden Bird launches itself upward. Its feet and tail are streamlined down to just minimal forms and the bird is topped with an upturned beak, -
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29 April: Zubin Mehta Was Born April 29th, 2022When Zubin Mehta made his conducting debut at New York Carnegie Hall in 1967 a critic wrote, “Mehta has the capacity to control every sound made by an orchestra, and he does this with the simplest of gestures, every one -
Practice vs Sight Reading – What’s the Difference? April 28th, 2022 The pressure of sight reading can seem a lot like a bad date: unpleasant surprises, sweaty palms and awkward silences can be just as common across the dinner table as when fumbling through an unfamiliar piece of music. Thankfully, although -
Musicians and Artists: Ferneyhough and Piranesi April 27th, 2022 Brian Ferneyhough: Carceri d’invenzione cycle Endless staircases, blocked passages, heavy machinery with unknown power, figures trapped in dead hallways: you’re in the world of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and his world of imaginary prisons. The Carceri d’invenzione of Piranesi were begun -
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27 April: Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks Was Premiered April 27th, 2022To celebrate the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ultimately ended the War of Austrian Succession, King George II of Great Britain hosted a gargantuan festival on 27 April 1749. Citizens from all corners of the kingdom arrived in London to witness -
Women Composers You Should Know IV April 26th, 2022 Anna Amalia, Princess of Prussia The 18th century shows a wonderful increase in the number of women composers who we know today. The number of royal composers, including Barbara of Portugal who became Queen Barbara of Spain, Princess Anna Amalia -
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26 April: Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 4 Was Premiered April 26th, 2022For almost 20 years, Niccolò Paganini had patiently confined his concert activities to Italy before setting out to conquer various European capitals. Initially he appeared in Vienna and Franz Schubert excitedly reported, “We will never hear his like again!” He