Hank Reynolds

Pange lingua Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist. In many churches that have a Maundy Thursday liturgy, you will hear (or perhaps sing) the hymn Pange Lingua Gloriosi Corporis Mysterium by St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274). The Gregorian melody associated with the … Read more

Schein, Ach Herr, ach meiner schone In the past two weeks we have looked at the music of Heinrich Schütz and Samuel Scheidt. Johann Schein (1586-1630) represents the third member of our famous trio of early German Baroque composers. Schein was born in Grünhain, but moved to … Read more

Scheidt, Canzon Bergamasca One often finds Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) closely associated with Heinrich Schütz (whose music we featured last week). He was born and spent most of his career in the German city of Halle, not far from Schütz’s home of Weissenfels. Schütz and Scheidt, however, … Read more

Schütz, Heu mihi domine and Quid commisisti Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) earns an extensive entry in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. It begins with a striking accolade: “He was the greatest German composer of the 17th century and the first of international stature.” No weasel … Read more

Hindemith, Sonata for Harp Our apartment in Weimar, Germany backs up to the Liszt Conservatory of Music. In summer, the open windows bring the sound of students practicing. We like that. Professional musicians also live in the area. The couple that until recently lived on … Read more

Korngold, Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 Erich Korngold (1897-1957) made his mark in two separate musical worlds. In his childhood, his works were praised by composers like Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. He was in many ways their heir-apparent in Vienna. At age … Read more

Shostakovich, Polka (from The Golden Age) What makes music funny? Should we even ask the question? The writer E.B. White said, Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it. I almost always defer to E.B. White … Read more

Schubert, Shepherd on the Rock Years ago, Dr. Stanley Shumway, my primary professor in my doctoral studies, claimed that he could teach most of music theory using only the Chopin Mazurkas. I thought about that and concluded that I could teach most of music theory … Read more

Stravinsky, Pastorale Last week we focused on the rousing galop in Rossini’s William Tell Overture. But, as we noted, much of the work involves a pastorale scene portraying idyllic life in the Swiss Alps. A pastorale evokes shepherds and rustic rural life. The musical form has … Read more