Hank Reynolds
Tárrega, Recuerdos de la Alhambra Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), considered the “father of the classical guitar,” is best known for his Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of Alhambra) written in 1896. My travels in Spain have not taken me to Alhambra yet, but it appears to be a rather … Read more
Puccini, O mio babbino caro This week we venture into opera with a popular aria “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s one-act comedy Gianni Schicchi. If you don’t know the opera, you may still recognize the tune from television ads or movies. We have had 143 … Read more
Dr. Fabiana Claure will make a special musical presentation at our symposium “Teaching the Arts Classically” this coming Saturday, October 7. Fabiana now holds the position of Director of Career Development and Entrepreneurship in Music at the University of North Texas. What does all that … Read more
Mozart, Sonata in A Major, K. 331 This week I have found myself searching through Mozart’s compositions for some musical examples related to a music theory project. The Mozart Sonata in A Major (K331) kept coming to mind, and now I can’t get it out … Read more
Clara Schumann, Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22 Clara Schumann (1819-1896) became one of the most celebrated pianists in Europe for much of the 19th century. Her career began at an early age with a concert tour to Paris in 1830, spurred by … Read more
Bernstein, Overture to Candide Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) sprang to fame in 1943 when he found himself conducting the New York Philharmonic on short notice. He had studied with the top names in the music world at Harvard and the Curtis Institute and had just been … Read more
Hildegard von Bingen, Caritas abundat Hildegard von Bingen (c. 1098-1179) is one of the earliest composers we can identify by name. A saint, doctor of the church, mystic, and abbess, she experienced visions throughout her life. She eventually recorded her visions and left a significant … Read more
Bolcom, Three Ghost Rags When you think of Ragtime, you probably think of Scott Joplin. Maybe you should think of William Bolcom (b. 1938) as well. Bolcom played a key role in reinvigorating interest in Ragtime and in Joplin back in the 1960s. And very … Read more
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Debussy, Sonata for Cello and Piano When you think of the music of Claude Debussy (1862-1918), you might conjure up big washes of sound—the kind of sonorities you would find in his seascape La Mer. Or perhaps you think of the ethereal and bucolic Prélude … Read more
Cimarosa, Concerto for Two Flutes in G Major (G. 1077) As I was considering something by Domenico Cimarosa (1749-1801) for a performance pick, I searched the Professor Carol website to see what we might have already said about him. As it turns out, he’s in … Read more