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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Welcoming Spring in Song
Delius: Four Old English Lyrics March 20th, 2020One of the wonderful signs of spring are the flowers that appear everywhere, sometimes under our feet, forgotten through the long cold winter. Frederick Delius (1862-1934) took four 16th and 17th century texts and created his small collection of Four -
Pocket Symphonies March 20th, 2020 You’ve heard of pocketbooks, pocket watches, pocket battleships and pocket money, but what about pocket symphonies? According to Wikipedia, “a pocket symphony is a song with extended form. The term was popularized by English journalist Derek Taylor, who used it -
Playing With the Mirror
Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche March 19th, 2020Who is this rascal Till Owl Mirror? First appearing in a German book published in 1515, he comes straight out of folklore and tales of the practical jokester. In the 1515 book, Till was born near Brunswick around 1300. His -
Orpheus: The First Superstar Musician March 18th, 2020 Orpheus was not only a legendary hero of Greek mythology; he was also the first superstar musician. But more than that, he was the Mozart, Shakespeare, Pavarotti, and Lady Gaga all rolled into one. His singing and playing moved even -
Returning Cycles – Beethoven’s “32” March 17th, 2020 intense, immersive, impassioned, hugely demanding and hugely enrichingJonathan Biss, pianist It’s the single most humane music imaginableIgor Levit, pianist Somewhere in the world right now, as I write, a pianist is performing or recording the Beethoven Piano Sonatas, maybe just -
Musicians’ Responses to the Coronavirus Woes
Some Smiles and Suggestions March 16th, 2020You can always count on musicians for a much-needed smile and some solutions, even during this global pandemic. The Coronavirus Etude—For Piano and Disinfecting Wipe is a must for all piano teachers. To be played Molto RUB-ato, and Molto Detergere. -
Escaping COVID-19
Feel-Good Music II March 16th, 2020We hope that our initial musical “Escaping COVID-19” has brought some joy into your life. So we’ve put together another episode of feel-good music, starting with Italian instrumental music by Michele Mascitti (1664-1760). Mascitti was at the forefront of music -
The Music of Poetry
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: “Nur Wer Die Sehnsucht Kennt” March 15th, 2020“Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt” (Only he who knows longing) is one of four Mignon songs in Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister written in 1795. These songs are symbolic, because they are sung and not recited by the main characters. The episode