The solo violin has long been acknowledged as the perfect instrument to express emotions like love, longing, heartbreak, rapture, and romance. The Romantic era lasted from the early nineteenth century to the early twentieth century and produced numerous works that
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Musical Autograph Books February 18th, 2014 Starting in the 16th century with small albums created by fellow classmates and continuing into the 20th century with the rise of musical groupies (actually, this started much earlier), the autograph book is an interesting view into the relationship between -
Pierre de Manchicourt February 17th, 2014 Pierre de Manchicourt: O Virgo virginum In 1554, a remarkable wedding ceremony took place at Winchester Cathedral. The bride was described as “a faded little woman with red hair and no eyebrows.” That little woman was no other than Mary -
Why Music? February 16th, 2014 We who play music know that there are few experiences in life that are as fulfilling as making music. It is a powerful gift. We can touch people and be a positive influence on others and ourselves. The physician and -
Old St. Paul’s Cathedral February 16th, 2014 Thomas Morley: I know that my redeemer liveth For nearly 300 years, St. Paul’s Cathedral was the tallest building on the London skyline. The present cathedral with its majestic dome was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built in the -
Music with Messages February 15th, 2014 Some of the most beautiful music in the world is an image, not a sound. And in these works of musical art, there is often another message to be read. In 1477, the Chansonnier Cordiforme (the heart-shaped songbook) was a -
Visions of Arcadia in Music, Art and Literature I February 14th, 2014 In my last article ‘Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Frederick the Great and the Architecture of the Rococo’ I focused on the re-emergence of pastoral themes in music and the arts. Members of the aristocracy, dressed as shepherdesses and shepherds appeared -
Open Letter to Yuja Wang February 14th, 2014 Dear Yuja, I am writing this open letter to you, as I want the world to know that I am in awe of your piano playing. Since I followed your musical career from the age of seven, I have not -
In touch with Joyce Yang : A Brilliant Young Talent February 13th, 2014 SchumannCarnaval The pianist Joyce Yang was recently in Hong Kong as the headliner of the Fifth Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival. She performed across a wide range of repertoire, showcasing her versatility as a pianist.