As a mythological character, Hercules is one who has always captured our attention. Famed for his strength and for his adventures around the known world, he’s caught the attention of writers and musicians for centuries. The stories and feats of
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Best Symphonic Poems of all Time July 3rd, 2023 First things first, a symphonic poem is an orchestral composition, usually in a single continuous movement. Basically, the music of a symphonic poem attempts to communicate or carry meanings, messages, or concepts that originate from outside music itself. This can -
Beethoven’s Students: From Carl Czerny to Countesses July 2nd, 2023 Ludwig van Beethoven has gone down in classical music history as a great, defiant, wild-haired composer genius. However, being a genius doesn’t always pay the bills. So throughout his life, Beethoven often took on piano students to supplement his income…at -
On This Day
2 July: Christoph Willibald Gluck Was Born July 2nd, 2023Christoph Willibald Gluck was born on 2 July 1714 in Erasbach, near Berching, in Upper Palatinate. His father Alexander “was an enterprising and energetic man, who was in charge of the forestry and the toll of several wealthy monasteries.” Alexander -
Violin Masterworks Inspired by Jascha Heifetz July 2nd, 2023 The famed Irish playwright, critic, and political activist George Bernard Shaw sent a personal letter to Jascha Heifetz after hearing a performance. He writes, “Your recital has filled me and my wife with anxiety. If you provoke a jealous God -
The Motet July 1st, 2023 One of the most prevalent musical genres for over 500 years, the motet has virtually vanished from the performing repertoire. Throughout history, the motet changed with every new musical period. Beginning around 1220, the motet was a secular polyphonic composition -
Laurence Kilsby July 1st, 2023 ‘All I care about is making good music and singing it well’ Young British tenor Laurence Kilsby is no stranger to success: having won first prizes at the 2023 Heidelburger Frühling Festspiele’s “Das Lied”, 2022 Wigmore Hall/Bollinger International Song and -
On This Day
1 July: Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 1 Was Premiered July 1st, 2023During the mid-1920s, Béla Bartók experienced a compositional fork in the road. His violin sonatas had represented him as a musician on the international stage, while the “Dance Suite” was a national composition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the unification -
The Start of a Nationalist Storm
Vítězslav Novák’s V Tatrach June 30th, 2023Czech composer Vítězslav Novák (1870–1949) initially studied law at Prague University before taking up music as a student of Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904) at the Prague Conservatory. His early interest was folk songs, particularly from the Slovak and Moravian areas, and