Five Families Where Composing Is All In The Genes

Most people have heard of J.S.Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and, more recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber? But did you know that none of these were the only composer in the family? Some, indeed, were part of a line of musicians that lasted many generations. Here, then, are five of some of the most famous composing families, their most famous and not so famous members, as well as examples of their best works. When it comes to composing, it’s just in the blood. Continue reading...

György Ligeti, Stanley Kubrick and 2001. A Story with a Sting in the Tail.

Ok, so you’ve heard of the film ‘2001’? The one set in space with the black monolith and the mad A.I. computer HAL? And its legendary director Stanley Kubrick? You know, the one who was a notorious perfectionist and whose cinematography also includes films such as the ‘Dr. Strangelove’, ‘A Clockwork Orange’ and ‘The Shining.’

So who is György Ligeti and what does he have to do with Kubrick and that movie? Continue reading...

The Most Beautiful Flower-Inspired Classical Music

Did you know that January 10th is National Houseplant Appreciation Day? It was established in the 1980s by the Society of American Florists to promote the benefits of bringing plants inside our homes. Plants and especially flowers have, of course, long been a source of inspiration for composers. Here are 10 pieces inspired by flowers, complete with links to sheet music. So this 10th January, instead of talking to your houseplant, you could instead serenade it with an appreciative tune or two. Continue reading...

Winter Music: Ten Classical Pieces for the Coldest Season

The days are short, the weather's awful. Time to put another log on the fire and warm the soul with our seasonal round-up of winter classics.

1. Rimsky-Korsakov: Orchestral Suite from The Snow Maiden

Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Snow Maiden (1881) is one of the composer's best-loved pieces, full of colourful musical set pieces inspired by an endearingly zany Russian folk tale (this must be the only opera in which the heroine ultimately melts). The four-movement orchestral suite drawn from the opera evokes winter at its jolliest, featuring twittering birds, a stomping march, and the energetic "Dance of the Tumblers", depicting the acrobatic feats of a troupe of street performers. Continue reading...

The history of the Argentine national anthem

The Argentine national anthem, Himno Nacional Argentino was composed by Vicente López y Planes and written by the Argentine national hero, José de San Martín. The song was officially adopted as the national anthem on May 11, 1813.

Interestingly, Vicente López y Planes wasn't just a composer, he was also a politician and was interim President of Argentina from July 7 to August 18, 1827!

But the hymn has more to its background as well. Continue reading...

The poignant Ukrainian story behind Carol of the Bells

Carol of the Bells is a staple of the holiday season, particularly in the US. But where did this atmospheric song come from - it feels like a relatively recent addition to the Christmas repertoire, doesn't it?

The song actually has Ukrainian origins and the story behind it poignantly highlights the fact that Russian aggression against Ukraine isn't a recent phenomenon. Continue reading...

Renaissance Music

The Renaissance period in music describes the two hundred year period from 1400-1600. It was a period of great change and innovation in music, with the emergence of new musical styles, forms, and genres, as well as the development of new musical instruments and new forms of music notation.

During the Renaissance, composers began to write music that was more expressive and emotive than the music of the Middle Ages. They also began to experiment with new forms, such as the madrigal, which was a form of secular vocal music that was often written for small groups of voices. Continue reading...