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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Minors of the Majors
Max Bruch: Concerto for Clarinet and Viola in E minor, Op. 88 September 19th, 2016“Minors of the Majors” invites you to discover compositions by the great classical composers that for one reason or another have not reached the musical mainstream. Please enjoy, and keep listening! -
Muse and Musings
Inspired by the marvelous horse face! September 18th, 2016Frequently, inspiration does not come from far-flung places or idealized personalities. It is naturally found within an extended social environment or even within one’s own family! During their childhood years, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his sister Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia -
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
Shakespeare and Music X – Richard III September 18th, 2016In 2012, against all odds, archeologists found the 500-year-old skeletal remains of Richard III buried under a parking lot. The controversy resurfaced surrounding Richard, the last medieval monarch of English history, the last king of the House of York and -
Critical Ear with Sharpened Pen
Music Critics—Their Past and Future: An interview with Arthur Kaptainis September 17th, 2016Growing up in Canada Arthur Kaptainis was held in awe in the music world. He has been the music critic of The Montreal Gazette since 1986 and served on the Gazette editorial board from 1991 to 1999 and 2003 to -
Patriotism and Nationalism IV: Russia and China September 16th, 2016 For many countries, their National Anthems are symbols of their place in the world. They may reflect many different aspects of a country, sometimes listing nature’s bountiful beauties, sometimes giving an encapsulated history of a country, or reflecting a particularly -
Playing the Beethoven Piano Sonatas September 15th, 2016 Frequently referred to as the ‘New Testament’ of piano music (Bach’s ‘Well-Tempered Clavier’ being the ‘Old Testament’), Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas rank amongst the high Himalayan peaks of the pianist’s repertoire. The primary appeal of these pieces, aside from the -
The Blind Virtuoso of the Renaissance
Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566) September 14th, 2016A serious infection robbed Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566) of his eyesight at a very early age. Blindness, however, could not prevent him from becoming a master of keyboard performance during the Spanish Renaissance. In addition, Cabezón was a pivotal transitional -
Phoenix Carbiano Rising from the Ashes September 13th, 2016 An airliner of the 21st century has relatively little in common with the pioneering efforts of the Wright brothers on a North Carolina beach. Although the basic principles of flight have not changed over the last century, the practical applications