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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Music and Art: Botticelli August 1st, 2015 We know Sandro Botticelli as that 15th-century painter who was able to capture the ineffable in his works, be it the personification of a season, the birth of a goddess, or an important Biblical meeting. The early Renaissance painter Botticelli -
Apple Music July 31st, 2015 Music has been part of the Jobs-era Apple brand ever since the iconic ‘Silhouette’ iPod adverts that bewitched a generation. Its focus on popular music identified Apple as a company of the young– its products, especially the iPod, became essential -
The Secret Wife
John Lennon and Cynthia Powell July 30th, 2015Love is a rather infrequent visitor to the world of sex & drugs & Rock and Roll! Love ballads do constitute an important genre within the repertory of most bands, but reality frequently looks decidedly different. John Lennon, the founder -
Let’s Skiffle
John Lennon and the Quarrymen July 29th, 2015The musical genre called “Skiffle” originated in African-American culture in the early 20th century. Drawing its influences from jazz, blues, and folk, it usually featured poor musicians using homemade or improvised instruments. Washboards, jugs, cigar-box fiddles and comb-and-paper kazoos accompanied -
John Lennon July 28th, 2015 Imagine… John Winston (later Ono) Lennon was born on 9 October 1940, in Liverpool, England, to Julia (Stanley) and Alfred Lennon, a merchant seaman. When his parents separated, 4-year-old John ended up living with his Aunt Mimi. John showed some -
In Touch with Sara Solovitch July 27th, 2015 At the age of 19, a promising pianist named Sara Solovitch, struggling with nerves, decided to turn away from her ambitions as a professional musician. Since then she has led an active and varied career as a journalist across the -
Outdoor Weddings — the Joys and Sorrows July 26th, 2015 I don’t do outdoor weddings. Weather can wreak havoc. But when my nephew asked me to play for his wedding I responded with a heartfelt resounding, “yes!” To say I was blown away by the ceremony is an understatement. -
William Herschel: Composer to the Stars July 26th, 2015 When William Herschel (1738-1822) peered into the night sky on 13 March 1781, he noticed something rather peculiar. One of the celestial bodies he had been observing through his homemade telescope was moving oddly across the sky, and Herschel initially