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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What is Musicology April 25th, 2019 For some people, the word ‘Musicology’ is that recording by Prince that came out in 2004, with a first track of the same title, a James Brown–style homage to funk. -
Jian Wang @ 50 April 24th, 2019 “Music is only alive when you understand humanity, which is the real source of it.” Jian Wang – February 5th, 2019 I have followed Jian Wang‘s career development for over four decades. He is one of two celebrated cellists whose -
Jacques Loussier (1934-2019)
“Combining jazz and classical music creates a new kind of energy” April 23rd, 2019If you are ever looking for a refined and sophisticated synthesis of jazz and classical music born from improvisation one name immediately comes to mind—Jacques Loussier (1934-2019). A conservatoire-trained pianist, Loussier created a veritable sensation in 1959 by establishing a -
Heinrich Heine’s Favorite Song Composer April 22nd, 2019 Musical settings of Heinrich Heine’s poetry must number in the thousands! An intricate response to the charged political environment of his day, not to mention his own turbulent life, Heine was able to create distinct emotions in his poetry. As -
Musicians and Artists: Mendelssohn and Wilhelm Hensel April 21st, 2019 When you see ‘Mendelssohn,’ your first thought might be of Felix, but this is about Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix’s older sister. -
Simulating Performance April 21st, 2019 As every performing musician will tell you, there’s a world of difference between playing in the privacy of one’s home or rehearsal room and performing in public. -
The Mysteries of the Creative Process—An Inside Look April 20th, 2019 A recent article in the Chicago Tribune titled, Please Don’t Tell me CSO Musicians Have It Easy, by Howard Reich, begins, “Ahh, what a soft and easy life the striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians lead! They show up for a -
Mozart’s Musical Journey
20 April 1782: Fantasy and Fugue, K. 394 April 20th, 2019Mozart writes to his sister in April 1782: “My darling Constanze has at last summoned up courage to follow the impulse of her kind heart, and to write to you. If you are so good, dear sister, as to answer