Know Your Composer
In the historiography of Western music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart occupies a special position. We consider him an exceptional and singular musical genius who attained the status of an undisputed superstar of Classical music. God-like status and reverence aside, we also understand, however, that Mozart was very human in his emotions
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Lars Vogt, the renowned German pianist and conductor, passed away on Monday, September 5. He was 51. In March of 2021, Vogt was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in his throat and liver. Born in the town of Düren in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, Vogt rose to prominence after winning
Music Education
Operetta, a precursor of the modern musical, is often considered less serious than opera. We delve into the history of the ‘lighter’ side of opera to understand why the form continues to thrive in musical theatre of the 21st century. Operetta emerged in the second half of the 19th century
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How does a composer with a social consciousness seek to change the world, and why? Brian Field, a New York City and Juilliard-trained composer and pianist is seeking to do just that. With his solo piano work “Three Passions for our Tortured Planet,” Field is engaging with pianists from around
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As if it was destiny, a freedom fighter named Mr. Jacob John from Kottayam, travelled all the way to Madras (Chennai) in order to pursue his passion for playing the piano. He found his way to Musée Musical and offered to teach. Musée Musical was started by a Portuguese piano
Throwback Thursday
Onay Zhumabayeva, cellist and Orchestra Manager, looks back on the SOI’s journey from the first-ever season in 2006 to the 29th, beginning this month. The thrill and challenge of moving in uncharted waters are inseparable. The pioneers of the Symphony Orchestra of India, in creating the country’s first
Know Your Composer
Ethel Smyth (1858-1944) was determined to devote her life to music and thus she studied at the Leipzig Conservatory. There she met Dvořák, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, and later through her private teacher Heinrich von Herzogenberg, became acquainted with Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Tchaikovsky wrote in his memoirs, “Miss Smyth
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Six emerging composers from diverse backgrounds have been selected to join ABRSM’s landmark mentoring scheme after the resounding success of a pilot programme last year. The six-month Writing for Music Education programme aims to demystify the process of writing for music education, encouraging composers from a broad range of
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“The most precious thing a festival can achieve is to enable people to come together and essential artistic encounters to happen – that has been the Salzburg Festival’s goal since its very beginning. More than one hundred years ago, when artists thought up this Festival, Europe lay in ruins. And
Know Your Composer
Franz Joseph Haydn’s 1798 oratorio, The Creation, begins with a shocking musical depiction of chaos which, at times, seems to anticipate the chromaticism of Wagner. This famously progressive harmony sets the stage for a masterful dramatization of the creation of the world, as outlined in the Book of Genesis.
Music Education
Ahead of the Autumn 2022 Season of the Symphony Orchestra of India which features three widely regarded adaptations of the classic, a look at the historical context in which they were written, the norms they challenged and what emerged from the synthesis of Shakespeare with music. The global reputation and
If you’re one of the beginner guitar players out there, the G major chord is one of the first chords beginner guitarists play. It’s easy to do, and you only need three fingers. A simple open chord shape may be used to play five of the seven notes
