For as long as composers have been writing music, they’ve been inspired by the mystery, mood, and mythology of the night. We’ve gathered ten pieces of classical music about the night that explore themes associated with the hours after dark,
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Barque On the Ocean August 14th, 2024 A barque is a three-masted sailing ship in its original definition, but by the end of the 19th century, it had become downgraded to refer to a small boat or even a rowing boat for inland waters. The idea of -
Bubbles – Many Different Kinds August 11th, 2024 When we think of bubbles, we think of floating air or just the utter joy of watching them catch the sunlight and turn to rainbow colours. In the driest definition, it’s ‘a thin sphere of liquid enclosing a gas’. Mostly. - 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
