Dr Justin Wildridge

At first, the title might be a little off-putting, but exploring these two key areas of cultural history brings with it many benefits. Above all … Read more

Ludwig van Beethoven is felt by many to be amongst the greatest composers who ever lived. His remarkable contributions to the symphony, concerto, sonata, and … Read more

In spite of composing some of the most dramatically beautiful music ever heard, Beethoven’s life was littered with tragedy. Apart from the obvious horror of … Read more

Before we dive further into this burning question that has generously scattered itself across many internet forums, it may be of interest to understand a … Read more

Both of these types of choral music have enjoyed popularity for many hundreds of years. Such was the demand for cantatas during the Baroque era … Read more

When taking a steady look back at the history of piano manufacturing it appears that the end of the 19th Century was a popular time … Read more

    For anyone unfamiliar with the world of music notation software, let me quickly point out that these two examples are leaders in the … Read more

There have been, over the history of the piano, many, different and diverse methods of learning the instrument. Teaching and learning approaches have been and … Read more

Many of the recent piano reviews I have written have drawn their source material from the acoustic range of pianos both old and new. This … Read more

Hallet & Davis pianos may not be a manufacturer that is familiar to pianists in Europe. As a brand they began as many did in … Read more

For each piano company, there seems to be a fascinating story that accompanies the instruments with which we become familiar. The Gulbransen company is no … Read more

Of all the different brands of pianos available in today’s crowded marketplace, I have to say that Seiler has one of the most engaging websites … Read more

Carl Maria von Weber is claimed, according to records of a conversation with his son, to have composed the well-known opera ‘Die Freischutz’ on a … Read more

When researching the pedigree of many pianos currently available on the market you quickly discover remarkable stories stretching back through time to an age when … Read more

Grieg was is not usually associated with the world of concerti however his one and only Piano Concerto has proved to be amongst the most … Read more