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
Cynthia Collins
Sergei Prokofiev and his composition for children: Peter and the Wolf
The orchestral suite Peter and the Wolf was written in 1936 by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev to encourage young children to cultivate an interest in … Read more
How Brazilian Folk Music Influenced Classical Composer Heitor Villa-Lobos
The music of composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) reflects a combination of traditional European and native Brazilian influence. He was exposed to classical music at an … Read more
The role of jug bands in music history
Jug bands got their name from using instruments that were either homemade or household items such as a jug. They originated in the South in … Read more
Bizet’s Carmen: controversy over who wrote Habanera
One of the most popular and frequently performed operas is Carmen by Georges Bizet (1838-1875). That was not the case during the composer’s lifetime and … Read more
How the 1812 Overture Became Part of the Fourth of July Celebration
One of the most popular pieces of classical music for the Fourth of July fireworks is Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Its full name: 1812 Festival Overture, … Read more
How a Children’s Song Achieved Classical Music Success
Children’s songs and folk music are often handed down through an oral tradition. They seem to spring up without any specific composer yet survive numerous … Read more
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Morse Code
There is a connection between Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and the Morse code. Although approximately 30 years separated the creation of this particular symphony and the … Read more
Kazoo: An American Toy and Instrument
The familiar sound of pitched buzzing comes from a popular American toy and a musical instrument called a kazoo. Children and adults alike hum into … Read more
The History and Purpose of Toy Pianos
Toy pianos originated in Germany during the mid-19th century as toys and musical instruments for young children. Immigrants brought them to North America as part … Read more
Olivier Messiaen: 20th-Century Composer
The compositions of Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) reflect the bridging of traditional, tonal music with the avant-garde styles of the 20th century. He was born in … Read more
Composer Louis Vierne and His Organ Symphonies
The French composer, Louis Vierne (1870-1937), wrote six symphonies as large-scale concert works for pipe organ. He studied with French composer-organists César Franck and Charles-Marie … Read more
The Musical Contributions of Benjamin Franklin
In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) made a significant impact as an author, inventor, scientist, … Read more
Hail to the Chief: History of U.S. Presidential Anthem
“Hail to the Chief” is the official anthem announcing the arrival of the president of the United States at formal events. It has been used … 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