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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Metrono-no? December 10th, 2013 If there’s one thing that divides opinions almost as equally as it divides beats per minute, it’s the metronome. Its controversy began right since its inception in the early 19th century, and remains a highly contentious topic for many musicians. -
70 Children and Counting!
Cardinal Ottoboni and Arcangelo Corelli December 9th, 2013Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6, No. 1 By all accounts, Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni — grandnephew of Pope Alexander VIII —loved “pomp, prodigality and sensual pleasure.” Apparently, portraits of his mistresses disguised as saints, including the angelic Margarita Pio -
The Hungarians and Chinese are related
— The Pentatonic Scale December 8th, 2013“But I don’t want to practice scales! They’re boring!” Have you heard this complaint from your students? Or perhaps you have said it yourself? When I was a young student I became enamored of playing them — really! I knew -
Corelli goes Viral! December 7th, 2013 The Italian ensemble sonata — in the mold established by Arcangelo Corelli — took Europe by storm. It was soon imitated and adapted by composers far and wide, and Corelli himself brought the genre to England. John Jenkins, Henry Purcell -
Jan Lisiecki December 6th, 2013 Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki is one of the most exciting musicians of generation. The recent recipient of a Gramophone Young Artist of the year award and fresh from his debut disc of Chopin’s Ètudes, he maintains a busy performing schedule -
Music and Religion:
Agnus Dei: Grant us Peace December 4th, 2013In the late 7th century, a chant associated with the breaking of the community bread was added to the Ordinary of the Roman Mass. The name of this new chant “Agnus Dei” (Lamb of God) originates in the Gospel of -
Waltzing Duel.
Maurice Ravel: La Valse December 2nd, 2013One would be hard pressed not to agree with the assessment of a contemporary music critic, who described the Viennese Waltz as a direct expression of sensuality. In the hands of Johann Strauss II, known as the “Waltz King,” this -
In touch with Leonard Slatkin December 1st, 2013 After a 34-year gap and just in time for the season, the Orchestre National de Lyon is returning to China on its second tour to celebrate not only the New Year, but also 50 years of Sino-French diplomatic relations. Under