The Mystical Music of Hildegard of Bingen: A Medieval Composer and Visionary
In a previous article, I was fortunate enough to focus on female composers, and amongst the collection was Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179). Why did I … Read more
INSPIRATIONAL
Why Do We Like Sad Music?
Provided that sadness is an emotion we generally try to avoid, why do we even listen to sad music and enjoy it? According to the … Read more
Seven Ways to Procrastinate Less and Do More
Stop making excuses, procrastinators. Whether you overestimate your “natural talent”, complaining about “not having enough time” or being “too old to succeed anyway,” there is … Read more
The History and Influence of Reggae Music
Reggae music has had a profound influence on many aspects of Western culture from fashion to popular music. Across the United Kingdom, the USA and … Read more
The Role of Patronage in Shaping the Music of the Baroque Era
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
The Legacy of Tchaikovsky’s Ballets
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
The Role of Music in Film and Television
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
The Impact of Stradivarius on Violin Making
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
Mozart’s Operatic Influence on Modern Pop Music
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
Here is What Great Philosophers Thought of Music
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
13 Most Interesting Versions of Happy Birthday
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
6 Signs You Have What it Takes to Become a Professional Musician
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
Medieval Tritone Superstitions Proved Popular in 19th-Century Music
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
Six Curious Facts about Perfect Pitch
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
12 Delicious Food Recipes Named After Famous Musicians
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