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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Shostakovich for Beginners
10 Pieces to Make You Love Shostakovich August 8th, 2024Dmitri Shostakovich was born in 1906 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was an extraordinary talent who spent his entire creative life interacting with the Soviet regime, and his dark soulful works are favorites in the classical music world. Here are -
At the Water’s Edge August 7th, 2024 Water, in its warm form, is the summer symbol (water in its cold form, i.e., ice and snow, is another matter). We start on the water’s edge as it laps around our feet, cooling us and inviting us deeper. In -
Prokofiev for Beginners
10 Pieces to Make You Love Prokofiev August 1st, 2024Sergei Prokofiev was born on 23 April 1891 in Sontsivka, present-day Ukraine. He became one of the famous rebellious enfant terribles of twentieth-century Russian music. Here are a few facts about his life and career: Prokofiev’s music blended steely modernism -
Off to the Hunt! July 27th, 2024 In English, ‘the hunt’ means fox hunting, otherwise, it’s shooting (birds) or stalking (deer). In Europe in the 18th century, hunting, usually for deer, was a sport enjoyed by the upper classes, and there was specific music for different parts -
10 Unforgettable Tchaikovsky Melodies
(In Exotic Dresses) July 26th, 2024Pyotr Il’yich Tchaikovsky composed well over 100 romanzas written for voice with piano accompaniment. These songs enjoyed considerable popularity, however they also attracted some criticism. The Russian composer and music critic César Cui, for example, denounced them for failing to -
Mahler for Beginners
Seven Pieces to Make You Love Mahler July 25th, 2024Gustav Mahler was born in 1860 in Jihlava, present-day Czech Republic. He became one of his generation’s most famous symphonists. Here are a few facts about Mahler’s life and career: Mahler is best known for his symphonic works, which are -
Eduard Tubin: Kratt
The Goblin from Estonian folklore July 24th, 2024When I was writing my blog on the Estonian composer Eduard Tubin, I came across a quote that reads, “Eduard Tubin is to Estonia what Jean Sibelius is to Finland.” This struck me as a very insightful statement. Both composers -
Unique Concertos V
Works by Chen, Prokofiev, Davies, Kats-Chernin, and Beck July 22nd, 2024Let’s continue to explore more concertos for unique instruments. Chen Gang: Butterfly Lovers Erhu Concerto The legendary story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, better known as the “Butterfly Lovers,” has long reverberated in traditional Chinese opera. Localized differences aside,