For as long as composers have been writing music, they’ve been inspired by the mystery, mood, and mythology of the night. We’ve gathered ten pieces of classical music about the night that explore themes associated with the hours after dark,
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St. Thomas in Leipzig July 20th, 2013 J. S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion, “Kommt ihr Töchter helft mir klagen” One of the most wonderful experiences while traveling in Europe is the ability to visit monuments, castles, churches and civic buildings, and the spaces within the urban or -
The Land of Limited Impossibilities
Paul Hindemith and Gertrud Rottenberg III July 20th, 2013Paul Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher (Viola Concerto), II If you have ever taken wedding vows, you might still remember uttering the words “for better or for worse.” For Gertrud and Paul Hindemith, the “worse” was slightly more threatening than merely worrying -
Sachsenplatz Choo Choo
Paul Hindemith and Gertrud Rottenberg II July 14th, 2013In most cases, prenuptial agreements or matrimonial regimes include provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce or breakup of marriage. However, these contracts rarely regulate issues relating to the children of a marriage, particularly, -
Matthis the Painter:
Paul Hindemith and Matthias Grünewald July 14th, 2013Wilhelm Furtwängler had asked Paul Hindemith to write an orchestral work for the Berlin Philharmonic’s 1933/34 season – just at the moment when Hindemith had decided to write an opera based on the famous Isenheimer Altar (now in the Unterlinden -
The Érard of Your Ways!
“Waldstein” and “Appassionata” July 13th, 2013Beethoven’s Transfer of the “Symphonic Ideal” Into His Middle Period Piano Sonatas What had begun as a slight ringing in Beethoven‘s ears around 1789 had progressively turned into partial deafness by 1801. In 1802, while spending the summer in the -
Introduction to Eurhythmics July 12th, 2013 In my last article, I wrote about the importance of listening and how it contributes significantly to one’s musical education and development. I would now like to introduce another educational approach known as Eurhythmics, which incorporates listening as well as -
Paris Ballet Then July 11th, 2013 What was the Paris Opéra Ballet like six decades ago? My Uncle Arnold was posted in France after the Second World War in 1946. A dedicated music aficionado, he could hardly wait for his furlough to attend the ballet. This -
Let’s do the Shimmy!
Hindemith, Bartók and Bach July 10th, 2013Composed in January and February 1920, Paul Hindemith’s third string quartet was described as “brimming with youthful energy…a thrilling, musical event, real ‘new’ music. Here everything is comprehensible and concrete.” First performed at the Donaueschingen Chamber Music Performances in 1921,