In classical music, the Romantic Era lasted from around 1810 to around 1910. That century gave us some of the most famous symphonies in the repertoire. Nineteenth-century composers like Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Dvořák, Schubert, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, and others elevated the symphony
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Muses and Musings
Fur Elise, Therese or Gigons? October 16th, 2016It’s probably one of the most instantly recognized ring tones on your mobile, and piano students are expressly forbidden to play it in piano showrooms! By now you must have guessed that I am talking about Beethoven’s Bagatelle Für Elise. -
Avoiding Conscription
Gaetano Donizetti and Marianna Pezzoli-Grattaroli October 16th, 2016In April 1818, the impresario of the Teatro San Luca in Venice accepted Enrico di Borgogna by the young and thoroughly ambitious Gaetano Donizetti. The opera met with little success, but it resulted in a further commission for Donizetti. Una -
The Bauhaus: Architecture, Art and Music II October 15th, 2016 In my September Interlude article I focused on the close relationship between Bauhaus architecture, art and music. It is interesting to note, however, that the Bauhaus’ own teaching program consisted of studies in architecture, art and various crafts, whereas music -
Composers and their Poets: Schubert I October 14th, 2016 A Look at Schubert Vocal Works When we look at Franz Schubert’s song output, it is a truly amazing number. In just a few years, 11 to be exact, Schubert (1797-1828) wrote over 600 songs. The poets he set varied -
Princess Edith of England October 13th, 2016 Ah, you thought you knew all the Princesses of England from Diana on out. Princess Edith comes from a considerably earlier time, being daughter of Edward the Peaceful (943-975) and Wulfthryth, nun at Wilton Abbey, who had been abducted by -
Finding the links between music and memory: in touch with Roxana Haines October 12th, 2016 We live in a world with an ageing population. One of today’s most pressing issues is how best support, engage and care for the elderly, particularly those with physical and mental disabilities. And while debate usually revolves around political, social -
Bringing the Orchestra Home October 12th, 2016 Until recordings became common in the latter part of the 20th century, the only way to hear some of the great works was to attend a performance or to have your own orchestra. For the rest of the music-loving world, -
Let’s celebrate the elite in classical music October 11th, 2016 elite noun a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group or society The word “elite” has been frequently heard during the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.