We might have been playing An American in Paris wrong for 70 years
An American in Paris is one of the most famous compositions written by George Gershwin and one of the most famous pieces in American music … Read more
CLASSICAL
Listen to Beethoven’s Fifth in the style of Chopin
Bristol-based musician Syd R. Duke arranged Beethoven’s epic fifth symphony into a work for piano. Mind you, Ludwig’s original is scored for piccolo, two flutes, … Read more
81-year-old proves you’re never too old to become a violin maker
If you’ve ever thought like it’s too late in life to follow your dream of learning a musical instrument or even making one, 81-year-old Amadio … Read more
The Math Behind Beethoven’s Music
TED has produced an interesting video and accompanying blog post explaining how important elements of Beethoven’s creativity can be traced to mathematics. This helps explain … Read more
Seven Delightful Scandals and Controversies in Classical Music
Those who are not immersed in the world of classical music tend to imagine it as a fabled ivory tower on mount Olympus where blissful … 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
Study shows cancer patients benefit from choral singing
A new study carried out in part by the Royal College of Music shows that choral singing benefits cancer patients. The results suggest that one … Read more
Meryl Streep sings in trailer for movie about worst opera singer ever
A trailer has been released for Florence, a biopic starring Meryl Streep about a woman described as the worst opera singer of all time. The … Read more
Viola player sues Royal Opera House over hearing loss
A current court case could have major implications for musicians who have suffered hearing damage while performing or rehearsing. Chris Goldscheider was a successful viola … Read more
The Phantom of The Opera breaks another Guinness world record
The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running musicals of all time: in September 2012, the ill-fated mentor-mentee relationship between the creepy “phantom” and the … Read more
Does classical music help you to work/study?
Opinions are divided on whether it is beneficial to listen to music while working or studying. For some, having access to their favourite playlist is … Read more
9 Classical Pieces for Easter
So much focus is given to classical music at Christmas time that a lot of people often overlook that there is a large number of … 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
Andrea Bocelli regrets not completing his piano studies
In an interview put out following the release of his new album, Cinema, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli admits that his greatest regret was his failure … Read more
6 Psychological and Physical Benefits of Choral Singing
Research has shown for some time that singing in a choir has tremendous benefits for physical and mental well-bing, leading some to campaign for it … Read more