Features
A four-part series of reflections on the pleasures and paradoxes of learning to sing or play an instrument. For parents, musicians, and would-be musicians of all ages. The Ultimate Holistic Practice What is the meaning of “holistic”? The Oxford Dictionary gives two definitions, the first related to philosophy: “characterized by
Features
A four-part series of reflections on the pleasures and paradoxes of learning to sing or play an instrument. For parents, musicians, and would-be musicians of all ages. All the World’s a Stage Performing might be considered the ultimate goal of music study. To occupy the stage confidently and perform
Features
A four-part series of reflections on the pleasures and paradoxes of learning to sing or play an instrument. For parents, musicians, and would-be musicians of all ages. We have seen that learning to sing or play an instrument involves a lot of very worthwhile work. Understanding notation, controlling the physicality
Features
A four-part series of reflections on the pleasures and paradoxes of learning to sing or play an instrument. For parents, musicians, and would-be musicians of all ages. Why Bother? It is said to require ten thousand hours of practice to master an instrument. TEN THOUSAND HOURS? Are you kidding me?
Features
A report from Lisbon, Portugal on preparing to record a CD of recent music by Portuguese composers — and why it matters. Who is your favourite composer? Mozart? Bach? Schubert? Puccini? One of the pleasures of being a classical music lover is pondering such questions: listening, comparing, considering, and re-considering. Our
News
Here in Portugal, as most elsewhere, the Coronavirus has had a huge impact on concert-making. Although our “numbers” are relatively moderate, all live concerts have been cancelled since early March, confronting musicians with the heretofore-unknown territory of a “ban” on their principal activity. Orchestras cancelled the rest of their seasons,
Interviews
PRELUDE On April 28th,, the last day of Portugal’s biggest, three-day music festival—Dias da Música (Music Days)—my dear colleague and friend António Carrilho, maestro and virtuoso recorder soloist, will lead his early-music ensemble La Paix du Parnasse in a staged version of Henry Purcell’s 1692 “semi-opera”
Know Your Composer
Katharine Rawdon: Sören Sieg, the first time I heard your music I nearly fell off my chair with delight! It made me tap my foot, smile, and want to get up and dance (and I’m no dancer!). So in this interview I would love for you to answer for
