The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
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Intersections of Art and Music – Rothko and Pollock April 17th, 2016 Many 20th century and contemporary artists claim not only to have been inspired by music, but make a very compelling case for a close connection between a particular kind of music and their art. -
Sex and Music: The Renaissance and Early Baroque April 16th, 2016 The Renaissance – the sixteenth century time of rebirth was also a time for musical games. One of the greatest games of the day was sex. Musical references to sex were everywhere and especially in the madrigal. The madrigal was -
A Talk with Grzegorz Kotów of the Szymanowski Quartet April 15th, 2016 The Szymanowski Quartet was founded in 1995 and has become known as a sophisticated quartet that keeps a perfect balance between intellect and passion. The founding members, Grzegorz Kotów (violin), Vladimir (Volodia) Mykytka (viola), and Marcin Sieniawski (cello), were joined -
How You Should Feel in the Key of A minor April 15th, 2016 In our earlier series on C major and minor, G major and minor, and D major and minor, we listed Ernst Pauer’s suggestions from 1876 of pieces that fit the particular affect he assigned for a key. For the rest -
Crazy Music
Alexander Agricola (1446-1506) April 14th, 2016On occasion, composers and artists have some very peculiar habits or eccentricities that border on insanity. Erik Satie ate only food that was white in color, Richard Wagner enjoyed cross-dressing and his daily enemas, Anton Bruckner had an obsession with -
Redefining the piano summer school April 13th, 2016 Launched in 2015, La Balie, in the beautiful Lot-et-Garonne region of France, is the brain-child of Fiona Page, a high-flying former CEO and amateur pianist. After a busy and satisfying career in finance, Fiona felt the tug of a change -
Ferruccio Busoni
“Music is the art of sounds in the movement of time” April 12th, 2016Ferruccio Busoni was the only child of two professional musicians. His Italian father was an accomplished clarinetist and his German mother a capable pianist. Towards the end of his life Busoni declared, “I bless my father for having directed me -
Minors of the Majors
Franz Liszt: Cantantibus organis April 11th, 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! The 1860’s were not particularly kind to Franz Liszt.