Unlike today, where composers can receive or pitch for commissions from individuals, companies, or foundations, the options for funding during the Baroque Era were considerably … Read more
It is challenging to know whether Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is better known these days for his symphonic works or his ballets. Perhaps it is his … Read more
When the world of the moving picture arrived in the early part of the 20th century, it was a revolution. What is often referred to … Read more
In a recent article, I gave a broad account of the evolution of the violin with a particular focus on the work of the Cremona … Read more
The influence of W.A. Mozart across all areas of culture has been colossal, from the Baby Mozart Project through to contemporary song. You can hardly … Read more
While philosophers and scholars of the pre-modern era kept studying music from a harmonic point of view and often delved deeper into the concept “musica … Read more
A US court has ruled that one of the world’s most popular songs, Happy Birthday, is no longer under copyright. This could potentially mean that … Read more
If you ask a professional musician what their career is like, they will more often than not explain that their job is much more demanding … Read more
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
The term “perfect pitch” indicates the ability to identify the pitch of a musical tone without an external reference pitch. The first studies about the … Read more
Many of the foods we enjoy today were named for their creator or the inspiration of the recipe. So many foods and recipes we take … Read more
Jacqueline du Pré is arguably the greatest talent to ever play the cello. She combined mind, heart, body and soul to produce the most expressive … Read more
With the distance of one hundred and ten years between us now and the premiere of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring, it can be … Read more
Whether overtly or obscurely, the piano has become an object of focus in literature and art for more than two centuries. It has been featured … Read more
At a head-spinning pitch of 286 beats every minute, backed by a chord progression that demands the utmost level of preparation and performance, the Giant’s … Read more