Hank Reynolds
Josquin, El Grillo Josquin Desprez (c. 1450–1455-1521) is one of the most important composer of the middle Renaissance. His life history is riddled with gaps and uncertainties as he moved through various posts in the Low Countries, France, and Italy. Born in French-speaking Flanders (today’s Belgium), … Read more
Duparc, Phidylé Henri Duparc (1848-1933) can be added to the list of composers who studied law before committing to a career in music. I have threatened to compile that list someday, but the list would be long and not particularly useful since none that I … Read more
Mouret, Rondeau This rondeau by French composer Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738) will be instantly recognized by many as the musical theme for the television series Masterpiece Theater. Some of the best television drama, much of it produced by the BBC, aired as part of the series … Read more
James Barnes, Symphonic Overture James Barnes (b. 1949) and I crossed paths as graduate students at the University of Kansas in the mid 1970s. Jim worked primarily with the bands, and by that time my band days were basically over. So we were mostly involved … Read more
Beethoven, O Welche Lust Beethoven completed only one opera: Fidelio. Its premiere in Vienna on November 20, 1805, unfortunately came on the heels of Napoleon’s occupation of that city a few days earlier. Consequently, the audience was comprised mostly of French officers who likely preferred … Read more
Loewe, Erlkönig Carl Loewe (1796-1869) began his musical studies as a choirboy in Köthen, a town where J. S. Bach had earlier held a court appointment. He was noted for his excellent singing voice and as a child had sung the famous Queen of the … Read more
The American composer Carson Cooman (b. 1982) is active as a concert organist specializing in contemporary music. He has written numerous works for organ, but his compositions also include opera, orchestral works, and works for other solo instruments. Cooman has held the position of Composer … Read more
Buxtehude, Erfreue dich, Erde The cantata Erfreue dich, Erde (BuxWV 26) is referred to as a “parody” because the composer Dieterich Buxtehude (1637-1707) had written the music and performed it earlier in a different form. There was nothing unusual about that. In his position at … Read more
Brahms, Violin Concerto Johannes Brahms composed only one concerto for violin, considered now one of the gems of the repertoire. It was not so well received at its 1879 premiere in Leipzig. Only after the turn of the century did it find its place in … Read more
Bach, Prelude and Fugue in D Major (WTC Book I) J. S. Bach wrote two books of music known as The Well-Tempered Clavier (Books 1 and 2). Each book contains 24 Preludes and Fugues, a Prelude and Fugue for each of the 24 major and … Read more