Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck: Music, Muse and Marriage
The love between Robert Schumann and Clara Wieck Schumann is an endearing story that celebrates their music, muse and marriage. It survived parental disapproval, gossip … Read more
Cynthia Collins
The Salzburg Festival and World War II
When the Salzburg Festival ended its first decade in the 1920s, it had grown to an established international tradition of music and theater arts for … Read more
Arthur Sullivan: His Music Without Gilbert
The Victorian-era composer, Arthur Sullivan, is most famous as part of the British opera writing team of Gilbert and Sullivan who collaborated on 14 comic … Read more
Sigmund Romberg: Beloved Composer of Operettas
Sigmund Romberg was a prolific composer of the early 20th century whose romantic operettas touched the hearts of many. He is best known for The … Read more
The ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ Traditionally Brings People to Their Feet
The Hallelujah Chorus is traditionally performed throughout the Christian world as part of the Easter celebration. Whether it is done on the concert stage with … Read more
Manuel de Falla: Classical Composer Influenced by Spanish Folk Music
Composer Manuel de Falla is known for weaving elements of Spanish folk music into his ballets, operas, orchestral and chamber works. He was particularly influenced … Read more
Aaron Copland and the Sound of American Music
Aaron Copland composed music known for its “American” sound during a time when music in the United States was still heavily influenced by the European … Read more
Lowell Mason: Composer and Pioneer of Music Education in American Public Schools
Known for his contributions to both public education and church music, Lowell Mason’s early music training was in singing and structure of hymns. By the … Read more
Silent Night: From Poem to Christmas Carol
The Christmas carol Silent Night was first performed at a Christmas Eve service in 1818 in the village of Oberndorf, outside of Salzburg, Austria. The … Read more
St. Louis Symphony: From Choral Ensemble to Orchestra
The St. Louis Symphony, the second oldest symphonic orchestra in the United States, will begin its 136th season, Sept. 18, 2015, at its home base … Read more
Happy Birthday to Mildred J. Hill, the Composer of ‘Happy Birthday’
The song, Happy Birthday to You, is sung thousands of times every day and millions of times each year. It is that simple ditty of … Read more
Pipe Organ History at Westminster Abbey
Pipe organs have been part of the majestic history of Westminster Abbey for hundreds of years. The current organ, made by the organ builders of … Read more
Bösendorfer: the Story of Vienna’s Imperial Piano
Bösendorfer is the name of a company in Vienna, Austria, that has been manufacturing pianos since the early 19th century. Each piano is carefully handcrafted … Read more
Medieval Tritone Superstitions Proved Popular in 19th-Century Music
Out of all the musical intervals, the one that has been steeped in ominous superstitions since the Middle Ages is the tritone. This augmented fourth … Read more
Saint-Saëns and his Danse Macabre for Halloween
Camille Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, Op. 40, was composed in 1874 as an orchestral tone poem based on a French legend about Death appearing every Halloween … Read more