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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The Bauhaus: Architecture, Art and Music I September 12th, 2016 The recent article in the New York Times (August 10, 2016) titled “On the Bauhaus Trail in Germany” by Charly Wilder reminded me of the importance of the Bauhaus, and of my own travels to the region in which the -
Minors of the Majors
Dimitri Shostakovich: Suite for Variety Orchestra September 12th, 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! -
Musical Giants of the 20th Century: Cellists September 11th, 2016 As with the great violinists, it is difficult to choose just ten great cellists. But as a cellist myself here are my heroes. Pablo Casals, born on December 29, 1876 in the Catalonian region of Spain, can be credited with -
Vivaldi and Bach
All musical thoughts are cumulative September 10th, 2016Vivaldi and Bach never met! While the Italian master led the life of an international jetsetter, racing from one lucrative appointment to the next, Bach never strayed far away from home. Although Vivaldi came in contact with a variety of -
Patriotism and Nationalism III: Italy and Spain September 9th, 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 -
Morton Feldman (1926-1987)
Music is built on primitive memory structures September 8th, 2016Morton Feldman had strong opinions on everything, and he certainly wasn’t shy of voicing them. “Because I’m Jewish,” he wrote, “I do not identify with Western civilization music. Polyphony sucks! Our moral in music is nineteenth-century German music, but I -
Accentuate the Positive: Music and Neuro-Linguistic Programming September 6th, 2016 Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) was created in California in the 1970s by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. The name makes a connection between the neurological processes (“neuro”), language (“linguistic”), and behavioural patterns learned through experience (“programming”) which can be altered or -
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64 September 5th, 2016 In 1876, Nadezhda von Meck—widow of a fabulously wealthy railroad proprietor—first encountered the music of Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky. This initial musical encounter quickly developed into a relationship of musical patronage that would last the better part of 14 years. Von