The love story between Robert and Clara Schumann is often regarded as one of the most romantic in classical music history. Happily for historians, many of their love letters survive. They document their inner thoughts and emotions, as well as
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The Disappearing Light of Fireflies June 21st, 2023 We think of them as a summer phenomenon, a mysterious blinking in the bushes, or a trail of light seen out of the corner of your inattentive eye: fireflies! American composer Stephen Barber was in a garden in upstate New -
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21 June: Khatia Buniatishvili Was Born June 21st, 2023Covid-19 has fundamentally changed the way we work, educate our children, care for others, and also the way we communicate. As a reporter stated, “the pandemic didn’t bring us together; in fact, it was never going to be the common -
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20 June: Pamela Frank Was Born June 20th, 2023Violinist Pamela Frank, born to noted pianists Claude Frank and Lilian Kallir in New York City on 20 June 1967, took to the violin at an early age. She started her studies at the age of 5 as a student -
Musicians and Artists: Dutilleux and Van Gogh June 20th, 2023 Henri Dutilleux: Timbres, espace, mouvement (ou, La nuit étoilée) In the late 1880s, the sky at night was a point of inspiration for Vincent Van Gogh. In September 1888, he depicted a café at night in the middle of the -
Classical Piano Music For Sleep
Ten Pieces That Will Help You Drift Off and Dream June 19th, 2023Getting a good night’s sleep is not a luxury. It’s a necessity for our physical and mental well-being. Music can help people relax and fall asleep faster. Classical piano music can be especially effective at inducing sleep. In this article, -
On This Day
19 June: Sergei Taneyev Died June 19th, 2023Shortly after Tchaikovsky joined the staff of the Moscow Conservatoire in September 1866, a young boy was admitted to study piano. He was only 9-years old, and after a brief interruption, he resumed his studies in composition with Tchaikovsky. That -
Music of Royalty
King Henry VIII June 18th, 2023In popular culture, King Henry VIII (1491–1547) is primarily remembered for his six wives and countless mistresses. His private life was summarized in a popular rhyme. King Henry VIII, To six wives he was wedded. One died, one survived, Two -
Putting Anger into Music
Zemlinsky’s The Mermaid June 18th, 2023Austrian composer and conductor Alexander von Zemlinsky (1871–1942) was in the middle of the innovations of the Second Viennese School, with Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951) as his pupil. However, despite their common location and close age, Zemlinsky was not the revolutionary