Know Your Composer
The Ubiquitous Mozart
From black-and-white Hindi films to video games to immersive audiovisual art exhibitions, one does not need to work too hard to find the music of the great Austrian composer.
Know Your Composer
Know Your Composer
Duke Ellington: The Jazz Genius and His Legacy
Duke Ellington’s legacy as a jazz composer, bandleader, and cultural icon reshaped American music, blending jazz sophistication with social impact. His inventive compositions and charismatic leadership continue to inspire generations in jazz and beyond.
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The Architects of Polyphony: How Palestrina and Lassus Shaped Renaissance Music
The Renaissance era, spanning roughly from the 14th to the 17th century, marked a profound transformation in the landscape of Western classical music. Central to this evolution was the development of polyphony—a complex style of musical composition that interweaves multiple independent melodic lines. Among the leading figures who propelled
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The Influence of J.S. Bach on Modern Classical Music
Johann Sebastian Bach's genius in composition, intricate counterpoint, and harmonic innovation laid the foundation for modern classical music. His work continues to inspire musicians, composers, and scholars, shaping the evolution of Western music across centuries.
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The Rebels of Classical Music: How Iconic Composers Broke the Rules and Redefined the Art
Throughout history, rebellious composers like Beethoven, Berlioz, Stravinsky, and Shostakovich have challenged conventions, reshaping classical music with daring innovations. Their groundbreaking works expanded symphonic form, orchestration, and narrative, leaving a lasting impact on the art form.
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Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst: A Musical Friendship that Shaped British Music
The friendship between Vaughan Williams and Gustav Holst was a creative partnership that shaped British music, fostering mutual growth and innovation. Their shared passion for folk traditions and national identity transformed the classical landscape.
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Brahms and Schumann: A Friendship of Genius, Love, and Tragedy
The friendship between Brahms and Schumann was marked by admiration, artistic inspiration, and emotional complexities. Tied to Clara Schumann, their bond shaped some of the most beautiful and enduring music of the 19th century.
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The Funeral March: Symbolism and Emotion in Chopin’s B Minor Sonata
Chopin’s Funeral March from the B minor Sonata is a haunting meditation on death and grief, blending stark rhythms with lyrical contrasts, capturing the inevitability of mortality and the transient nature of solace.
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Unpacking the Genius: The Hidden Details in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is more than just a piece of music; it is a monumental work that has captivated audiences and scholars alike for nearly two centuries. Composed between 1822 and 1824, it stands as one of the most significant and influential compositions in the history of
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The Cloud Messenger
This is the 150th birth anniversary of English composer, arranger and teacher Gustav Theodore Holst (1874 – 1934). Although best known for his orchestral suite ‘The Planets’ (1918), this year presents an appropriate opportunity to revisit the rest of his vast oeuvre. This is precisely what is happening at the ongoing
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A True Meeting of Musical Minds
Starting in 1886 with the symphonic fantasy Aus Italien, Richard Strauss composed a series of programmatic orchestral works—Don Juan (1888-89), Tod und Verklärung (also 1888-89), Macbeth (1888-1891), Till Eulenspiegel (1894-95), Also sprach Zarathustra (1896), Don Quixote (1897), Ein Heldenleben (1897- 98), Symphonia Domestica (1902-03) andEine Alpensinfonie (1911-15)—of which
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Beethoven and Haydn: Mentor and Student
The world of Western classical music has been shaped by countless influential relationships, but few are as compelling as the mentor-student dynamic between Ludwig van Beethoven and Joseph Haydn. These two towering figures of the late 18th and early 19th centuries not only revolutionized the musical landscape but also shared