Composers are particularly adept at portraying the weather in music, the most obvious example being Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with its summer breezes, autumn gales and icy cold. The piano is a versatile vehicle to create atmospheric, evocative music, from Chopin’s

Let us continue our exploration of classical music inspired by the Old Testament. According to the Hebrew Bible, Saul was the first king of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah. And as it frequently happens with royalty, at some point

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of history’s most celebrated composers, and his vast oeuvre spans a wide range of emotions. But when it comes to expressing joy and exuberance, no other composer has Mozart beat. His ability to embody joy

We discovered an interesting recording the other day, consisting solely of LOUD music. This recording by the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Lief Segerstam, is entitled Earquake and where the first issue shows a listener thrown into space clutching his

The archduchess of Austria, Marie Antonia Josepha Johanna arrived in France at the age of 14. She became dauphine of France, under the name Marie Antoinette, when she married Louis-Auguste in May 1770. Four years later Louis-Auguste ascended the throne

Where can you find passionate stories about love and hate, horrible stories about rape and dismemberment, accounts of slave trafficking, tales of high honor, and cruel treachery of war? The answer is very simple, as you only need to turn

Just in case we need reminding, the “Dean of American Composers,” Aaron Copland was born on 14 November 1900. In his teens, Stravinsky studied theory and composition with Rubin Goldmark, who was considered one of New York’s most eminent composition

One of my all-time feel-good movies is the animated musical fantasy film “The Little Mermaid.” Originally released in 1989 by Walt Disney Pictures, the movie takes us to the kingdom of Atlantica. Princess Ariel, a 16-year-old mermaid, is unhappy with