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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New Year’s Resolutions January 11th, 2014Oscar Wilde sarcastically suggested, “Good resolutions are simply checks that people draw on a bank where they have no account.” Of course it might also be said that making resolutions is a cleansing ritual demanding personal honesty, and that breaking -
Hail to the Flautist!
C.P.E. Bach at the Court of Frederick II of Prussia January 10th, 2014When Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach joined the royal court of Frederick the Great of Prussia as an accompanist in 1740, a stable of some 17 musicians primarily devoted to the performance of chamber music greeted him. The monarch himself was -
CPE Bach, Frederick the Great and the Architecture of the Rococo January 10th, 2014 C.P.E. Bach (1714-1788), second surviving son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Maria Barbara Bach, was the true successor to his father’s legacy. Considered by his contemporaries as one of the most important composers and harpsichordists of their time, his enormous -
A Minimalistic Mountain out of a Molehill? January 10th, 2014 Something out of nothing Processes processes processes Repetition Inspiration Are you confused yet? -
Among true Friends!
The Berlin Monday Club January 9th, 2014Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: “Der Tag ist wieder hin” (Another day has passed), Gellerts Geistliche Oden und Lieder Throughout his 30 years of service to Frederick II, King of Prussia, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was never able to gain recognition -
Music from the deepest Province
Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 January 8th, 2014Robert Schumann: Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44 To prove his potential earnings from composition to his highly skeptical father-in-law —we all remember that Friedrich Wieck had taken Robert to court in order to prevent the “old alcoholic” from -
The Liszt Academy of Music January 7th, 2014 Based in Budapest, the Liszt Academy is one of the most renowned music colleges in Europe, and the world. Founded in 1875 by the composer-pianist himself, it has gone on to become a centre of musical excellence. I talked with -
Battling for Commercial Success in 1539 January 5th, 2014 Selling music in the Renaissance wasn’t that different from selling music today. Published music needed a way to differentiate itself from other, similar pieces of music. The title pages tended to look alike: Name, composers’ name (maybe), patron, voice part,