As a mythological character, Hercules is one who has always captured our attention. Famed for his strength and for his adventures around the known world, he’s caught the attention of writers and musicians for centuries. The stories and feats of
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Filippo Gorini November 1st, 2023 ‘Music is… a Source of Good for the World’ Young Italian pianist Filippo Gorini has already performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Berlin Konzerthaus, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, and Wigmore Hall in London. Filippo rose -
At Valhalla
NYC’s Last Home of Composers and Artists November 1st, 2023Up the Hudson River from New York City lies the ‘hamlet’ of Valhalla, and there, in Westchester County, lies Valhalla Cemetery, created in 1889 as the cemeteries in New York City were reaching capacity. The design of the cemetery followed -
An Interview With the Hevreh Ensemble
Creating World Music through the Power of Friendship October 31st, 2023Hevreh Ensemble is a group based in New York City that incorporates a variety of musical instruments in their performances. This includes Cherokee Native American flutes, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, English horn, shofar, and world percussion instruments such as djembe, -
10 Greatest Musical Hoaxes and Pranks October 30th, 2023 A musical hoax is sometimes described as a musical forgery or mystification. It basically refers to a work of music composed by an individual and intentionally misattributed to someone else. Most frequently, such music hoaxes are attributed to historical figures -
Imaginary Beings: Mermaids and Sirens October 29th, 2023 Mermaids are women of the sea: half female with a scaled fishy tail. Sirens, in a word, are evil mermaids. Mermaids want good and sirens want evil. Now how have composers dealt with them? Kit Turnbull: 3 Cautionary Tales British -
Show Me the Money
Gioachino Rossini October 29th, 2023By the time Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868) had penned his final opera at the tender age of 37, he had become one of the wealthiest and most influential musicians in Europe. Coming from very humble beginnings indeed, he composed up to -
The Most Expensive Violin in the World: The Locked-Up Messiah Stradivarius October 28th, 2023 The history of classical music is brimming with storied musical instruments. Chief among them is the Messiah Stradivarius, believed to be the most expensive violin in the world, celebrated for its pristine condition and astronomical value. Today we’re delving into -
Mauro and Emilia Giuliani
The Important Father and Daughter in the History of Guitar Music October 28th, 2023The Giuliani family produced two influential figures in the history of guitar music. Mauro Giuliani and his daughter Emilia Giuliani-Guglielmi were both Italian composers and guitarists. Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) played a crucial role in transforming the guitar from a mere