Hank Reynolds
Sibelius, The Oceanides After Wellerman last week, we might as well continue with the sea theme. Artists have found numerous ways to portray the natural elements. For composers, it’s a bit more complicated since music lacks the concrete imagery that can be found in other … Read more
Wellerman The Sea Shanty craze may have died down a bit. But that provides an excuse for a site like ours, focused on music history, to take up the topic. Of course, sea shanty history didn’t begin with Nathan Evans’ TikTok recording, but he did … Read more
Kancheli, A Little Daneliade I’m guessing that many if not most of you will be intrigued with this piece by Giya Kancheli (1935-2019). The music makes more sense when you know that it serves as the film score to the 1986 Russian-language film Kin-dza-dza. The … Read more
Granados, Intermezzo from Goyescas This intermezzo by Enrique Granados (1867-1916) comes from his 1915 opera Goysecas. It has become a popular concert piece for piano and for piano and cello. The opera is in the form of a Zarzuela, which developed initially as a Baroque-era … Read more
Berlin, Alexander’s Ragtime Band Irving Berlin (1888-1989) contributed as much to American music over his long lifetime as anyone. It’s hard to imagine a more famous collection of songs—God Bless America (1938), White Christmas (1942), There’s No Business Like Show Business (1946), just to name … Read more
Santa Maria, Strela do Dia The Cantigas de Santa Maria (Canticles to Saint Mary) consist of 420 poems written in the 13th century during the reign of Alfonso X of Castile (The Wise) (r. 1252-1284). These monophonic songs in medieval Galician-Portuguese songs honor the Virgin Mary. … Read more
Anonymous, Auld Lang Syne I realized a little late—but not too late—that this performance of Auld Lang Syne was available to mark the New Year. Tradition dictates its singing at the stroke of midnight as a way of bidding farewell to the old year. We … Read more
Sacred Harp, I’m Going Home For Thanksgiving, I have selected music that is quintessentially American. Of course, the Shape-Note singing tradition did not spring up spontaneously in America. It draws on various older traditions. But the style that survives (and thrives) today developed in American … Read more
Kevin Puts, And Legions Will Rise Some of the selections I make for this series are the result of careful planning and others come about on pure whim. I have some guiding principles—aesthetic, legal, and pedagogical—that constrain me only a little. I try to present … Read more
Sibelius, Elegiaco From The New York Times: Who knew? Sibelius, composer of seven visionary symphonies, wrote a sizable body of piano pieces that remain mostly neglected. The adventurous Mr. Andsnes discovers them on this exquisitely played album of beguiling, lyrical and quirky works. Even those … Read more