Dr Justin Wildridge

The 19th Century witnessed some of the most extreme musical developments in Western history. Everything appeared to be expanding. Orchestras commonly numbered a hundred performers, … Read more

Form or structure in music refers to how the music is constructed or put together. There are many different forms or structures that have developed … Read more

In conversation, people often make the connection between improvisation and jazz. This makes perfect sense as the genre is oriented around the improvisational skills of … Read more

One of the most engaging and inspirational areas of music is where Eastern and Western cultures intersect. Over hundreds of years of cultural history, fruitful … Read more

It’s not unreasonable to imagine that classical and folk music are completely separate genres. Never the twain shall meet, however, folk music has played a … Read more

When you hear the music of Verdi (1813-1901), it is often so powerful and passionate that the emotions you feel are overwhelming. In this way … Read more

JS Bach (1685 – 1750), came from a long line of musicians that is thought to date back to a man named Veit Bach. He … Read more

When it comes to accurately measuring the impact Ludwig van Beethoven had on the musical world, numerous academic tomes deal with this in an appropriate … Read more

Tracing the evolution of any instrument is rewarding, informative, and enlightening. It may be particularly so if you have ever played or are interested in … Read more

It’s maybe an odd thought to consider that once there were no orchestras. That fabulous collection of a hundred or more hard-working musicians ready to … Read more

French composer Claude Debussy did not align himself with the movement that became known as Impressionism. Understandably, Debussy resisted this classification as with it could … Read more

I am going to begin this article with a small confession. When I saw this title, it made me reflect on my musical education. What … Read more

How Many Strings Are In A Piano Most contemporary pianos have a range of seven and a quarter octaves. This has become an industry standard … Read more

Depending on how you want to draw a parallel to the piano, many instruments could be considered to be close cousins or distant relatives. Let’s … Read more

Chamber music dates back many hundreds of years. It usually refers to a type of music that is designed to be performed by modest-sized ensembles … Read more