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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Schumann for Beginners: 10 Pieces to Make You Love Schumann May 25th, 2024 Robert Schumann was born in the town of Zwickau in present-day Germany in 1810. Along with his wife, the great pianist and composer Clara Schumann, he went on to become one of the leading figures of Romantic Era music. Here - Grey Clouds Descending
Franz Liszt’s Failing Eyesight May 24th, 2024Franz Liszt first sought medical care in 1881, suffering from the early cardio-respiratory disease that would eventually take his life. Concurrently, Liszt also noted a gradual decline in the vision of his left eye. He had used corrective lenses for - Food for Thought
Mealtime with Gustav Mahler May 23rd, 2024Stepping into the footsteps of his idol Richard Wagner, Gustav Mahler wrote to a friend in 1880.“For the last month, I have been a total vegetarian. The moral effect of this way of life, with its voluntary castigation of the -
Composers Like Beethoven: Eight Composers to Check Out May 22nd, 2024 The music of Ludwig van Beethoven has captivated generations of musicians and listeners. However, some classical music lovers are so enamored by Beethoven that they fail to appreciate Beethoven’s gifted colleagues. If we look at music history, we can find - From Venice to Naples
Franco Alfano’s Suite romantica May 21st, 2024The Italian composer Franco Alfano (1875–1954) was one of the Italian ‘Generazione dell’Ottanta’ of composers born in the 1880s, the best known of which included Alfredo Casella, Ildebrando Pizzetti, Gian Francsco Malipiero, and Ottorino Respighi, who sought to bring back -
10 Pieces of Classical Music About Freedom May 20th, 2024 Classical music has been used for political purposes countless times, both in oppressive regimes (like in Stalin’s Soviet Union and Nazi Germany) and in battles for self-determination and freedom (like in the Finnish independence movement). European revolutions have had classical -
The Melodic Support: The Double Bass May 19th, 2024 The lowest member of the string family is the double bass – its genetics place it closer to the viol than the violin in that it has sloping shoulders (see cello for a viola da gamba image), its body is -
Masterworks Dedicated to Yehudi Menuhin May 18th, 2024 Ever since I was a little child, I listened to recordings by Yehudi Menuhin. In every single note that phenomenal violinist produced fantastic intensity and emotion. I remember listening to Bach’s Air on a G string, and I had never
