In classical music, the Romantic Era lasted from around 1810 to around 1910. That century gave us some of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire. Nineteenth-century composers like Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and others elevated the symphony
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The Last Rose of Summer II
Flotow, Mendelssohn, Franchomme, and Glinka September 12th, 2021“The Last Rose of Summer” reached a world audience as part of the romantic opera Martha by Friedrich von Flotow (1812-1883), premiered in Vienna on 25 November 1847. Adapted from a ballet to a story by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges, -
Cello Music by Women Composers IV
Keal, Soulage and Kaprálová September 11th, 2021British composer Minna Keal (1909-1999) was born Minnie Nirenstein of Russian Jewish parents. By the age of 12 she had already begun composing and subsequently she was offered a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music. When in -
Symphonies by Women Composers
Smyth, Auerbach, Holmès, Chen, and Taaffe Zwilich September 11th, 2021Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) was determined to devote her life to music and thus she studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. There she met Dvořák, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, and later through her private teacher Heinrich von Herzogenberg, became acquainted with Clara Schumann -
Let People Enjoy Music September 10th, 2021 I review classical music and jazz concerts. My editor says you are not a critic, do not critique the music or the performance. While sometimes I come close to critiquing the music; I hold back. But other times, there’s an -
In the Air: Respighi’s Birds September 9th, 2021 In his 1928 work Gli uccelli (The Birds), Ottorino Respighi brings us classical European birds, using music from earlier times as his inspiration. The core of the work is a selection from 5 seventeenth- and eighteenth-century composers’ compositions for harpsichord -
Building Skills and Encouraging Progress: London Young Musician Competition September 9th, 2021 Whatever you may feel about music competitions, they are an established part of the music world, and for young musicians in particular an important means of benchmarking success and showcasing talent. For those who wish to play professionally, the publicity -
Josquin des Prez September 8th, 2021 “Master of the Notes” In 2021, we commemorate the death of Josquin des Prez (c. 1450/1455-1521) who passed away 500 years ago in what is now western Belgium. For a good many scholars and historians—despite some current revisionist tendencies—he was the -
Why Stravinsky Is the Most Rock’n’Roll of All Composers September 8th, 2021 Music takes a whole new meaning when seen in writing; when taken its soul away, and when left to simple ink on paper. Out of their physical contexts, musical ideas are perceived differently. This separation of physical and spiritual allows