The solo violin has long been acknowledged as the perfect instrument to express emotions like love, longing, heartbreak, rapture, and romance. The Romantic era lasted from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced numerous works that
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Customized Perfection: Schubert’s Trout Quintet May 22nd, 2021 Franz Schubert (1797-1828) met the singer Johann Michael Vogl (1768-1840) in March 1817 at the house of a mutual friend, Franz von Schober. Schober was an Austrian poet and writer and supplied Schubert with the libretto for his opera Alfonso -
Composers of the Zodiac
Tropic of Gemini May 21st, 2021Between 21 May and 21 June, the sun transits the constellation of Gemini. This third astrological sign represents the twins Castor and Pollux. In Greek and Roman mythology, they are twin half-brothers. Their mother was Leda, but they had different -
Piano Music in the Key of B-Flat Major May 20th, 2021 There’s a special nobility to B-flat Major. Open and expressive, it’s regarded as an uplifting key, full of hope and aspiration. The first movements of Bach’s Partita No.1, and Schubert’s final piano sonata share this openness and nobility. Meanwhile, Beethoven’s -
Ludwig van Beethoven
Most Beloved Piano Favourites May 19th, 2021The piano was Ludwig van Beethoven’s favourite instrument. He was a virtuoso at the keyboard, and his compositions for piano “became a vehicle for experimenting not only with the fundamental aspects and techniques of music, but also a means of -
Eugène Ysaÿe: Six Sonatas for Solo Violin, Op. 27
“Mirroring the technical evolution and expressions of his time” May 19th, 2021In 1923, Eugène Ysaÿe attended a performance by the great violinist Joseph Szigeti. The entire concert was dedicated to Ysaÿe’s favorite composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Deeply moved and inspired, Ysaÿe went to work and over the course of twenty-four hours -
Wolfgang A. Mozart and His Fellow Musicians III May 18th, 2021 Maria Theresia Paradis (1759-1824) was the daughter of the Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor to Empress Maria Theresa. She lost her eyesight at the age of 4, and although she initially responded to treatment, she relapsed into her -
Who Owns What?
Stories on Intellectual Property; Copyrights and Royalties May 17th, 2021Royalties are quite unique to the music world; indeed composers and songwriters benefit from the advantage of being rewarded for each active and passive use of their works. While the painter, for instance, does not earn each time his work -
Classical Music Beyond the Concert Stage: Ten Classical Pieces Used in Commercials May 17th, 2021 Have you ever heard any advertisement music on the radio and TV that sounds familiar to you? A lot of them are excerpts or adaptations from classical music. I am going to share with you ten pieces that have been