Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme In contrast to the composers known as the Might Five, discussed in the prior post, Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) was far more committed to the use of Western European forms. Russia had looked West since the time of Peter the Great’s … Read more
Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain Some people like to associate the tone poem Night on Bald Mountain with Halloween. I could have featured this work in late October to coincide with that occasion, but I think that would only confuse things. Mussorgsky originally titled the work St. John’s … Read more
That’s right. Onions! Onion bread, onion necklaces, onion toys, and onion songs. It’s that time of year again: the Zwiebelfest (Onion Festival) in Weimar. There seems to be nothing that doesn’t benefit from an onion or two, or twenty. These little figures on the left … Read more
Piazzolla: Tango Suite, 3rd movement One of the things I like about writing this series is discovering new music and interesting performers. So much can be found on the internet. Of course, you have to wade through some rather disappointing things to find the gems, … Read more
It was hard to photograph using the camera on my out-of-date Blackberry. But look closely: stretched across the rooftops of stone houses inside Dubrovnik’s Medieval walls is a basketball court. Oddly shaped, but there it sits, perched three stories up. Isn’t it clever? Well, where … Read more
Dvořák: Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 2 If you’re familiar with Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, you probably know the orchestral version. But both sets, Op. 46 and Op. 72, were originally written for piano four hands and later orchestrated by Dvořák. Piano four hands means, as you might … Read more
Bruch: Kol Nidrei, Op. 47 In the coming week, Jews will mark the holiest day of their liturgical year: Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement. In Old Testament times, it was the one day when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies, the … Read more
I’m currently traveling in Croatia with a Smithsonian group. Fortunately, the high season is beginning to wind down. You can almost hear these historic buildings and cobblestone streets breathe a sigh of relief. It will be a while before I sort everything out and present … Read more
Caccini: Amarilli mia bella A new style! A solo voice singing “passionately” over a simple accompaniment. That may not sound so innovative, but it was a radical departure from the complex multi-voiced polyphony of the late Renaissance. Giulio Caccini (1551-1618) helped to chart the path … Read more
What season is it? It’s a Season of Welcome. Welcome to everyone joining us this fall: new and returning students, parents, tutors, and administrators. Some of you are taking my class using the original version of our signature course Discovering Music. Others are traveling across … Read more