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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- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Russian Romanza July 20th, 2024The romanzas of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893), perhaps surprisingly, have not been accorded the high rank bestowed on his ballets and symphonies. The Russian composer César Cui wrote, “Tchaikovsky viewed poetry as a necessary evil that only hindered the process - Mendelssohn for Beginners
10 Pieces to Make You Love Mendelssohn July 18th, 2024Felix Mendelssohn was born in 1809 in Hamburg, Germany. He became one of the most dazzling talents in classical music history and helped to lay the ground for classical music’s Romantic Era. Here are a few facts about his life -
Mozart’s Seven Saddest Pieces of Music July 15th, 2024 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is known for his light, elegant, joyful music. His preternaturally cheerful mood makes the times when he did write dark music stand out all the more. Today, we’re looking at seven of Mozart’s saddest pieces of music, -
It Could be Magic or Music July 14th, 2024 When we say ‘Magic’ in reference to music, we think of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, or perhaps Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. There are other magics out in the world of music, all of which take us to a different place -
Seven Works Dedicated to Chopin July 13th, 2024 Frédéric Chopin was one of the most influential classical musicians of the nineteenth century. Many composers clamored to dedicate their own work to Chopin as a sign of their admiration and respect. Even after his death, composers still dedicated works -
15 Pieces of Classical Music About Death July 10th, 2024 For centuries, composers have been writing classical music about death. In fact, death and dying have inspired some of the saddest works of classical music ever written. Today we’re looking at the stories behind fifteen pieces of classical music about - Sibelius’s Biography for Beginners
Ten Pieces to Make You Love Sibelius July 3rd, 2024Composer Jean Sibelius was born in 1865 in the city of Hämeenlinna, Finland. He went on to become the greatest composer that Finland ever produced. Here are a few facts about his life and music: Sibelius was famous for how -
The Sound of Rain June 30th, 2024 Rain, rain, everywhere…but not always where you need it. Rain can be a gentle shower or just a patter on the sidewalk, or a torrential downburst, saturating everything with WET. Let’s look at how composers depict rain. Cloudburst by American
