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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Elegies for One Lost at Sea
Aaron Copland’s Elegies for Hart Crane January 23rd, 2024The American poet Hart Crane committed suicide en route from Mexico to New York by uttering a brief ‘Goodbye, everybody!’ and jumping overboard from the steamship Orizaba. His body was not recovered. He was only 32 years old. At the -
Beethoven for Beginners: 13 Works to Make You Love Beethoven January 22nd, 2024 Ludwig van Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, Germany. He would become one of the most important figures in the history of Western music. Here are some things you should know about him: He always had a troubled home -
Winter in Majorca January 22nd, 2024 A film by Jeff Buchanan “When he plays it is as if the keys of the piano were brushed by the wings of angels.” George Sand Author of ‘Winter in Majorca’ Composer Frédéric Chopin and authoress George Sand stayed on -
Joan of Arc
The Maid of Orléans January 21st, 2024Joan of Arc, also known as the “Maid of Orléans,” was declared a national symbol of France by Napoleon in 1830. Her story had a profound effect on French society as the old societal order gave way to new ideas -
10 Beautiful Viola Concertos From the 18th Century January 21st, 2024 If you have heard one, you probably have heard them all! I am talking about viola jokes, a musical stereotype with a rich and proud heritage. Jokes directed towards violas and viola players probably originated in the 18th century, and -
Six of the Earliest Women Composers from the Renaissance Era January 20th, 2024 One of the most frustrating things when it comes to learning about women composers from the Renaissance is that we know they existed, but all of their biographies are very bare-bones. When it comes to these mysterious, super-talented women, we -
Music About Nature
5 Pieces Written for Violin and Piano January 20th, 2024At the start of the new year, I am learning some new pieces with my violin partner for our coming performances this year. The theme of our program is music about nature. In this article, I would like to share -
On This Day
19 January: Massenet’s Manon Was Premiered January 19th, 2024With his character “Manon,” Jules Massenet created a portrait of the eternal feminine. As has been pointed out, this male view of seductive womankind “the generous, ambitious, pleasure-loving good-time girl who delivers the goods and expires of nothing so much