10 loveliest lullabies - a definitive list

A lullaby (‘berceuse’ in French, ‘wiegenlied’ in German) is traditionally a soothing song for infants, especially to help them to sleep. It is one of the loveliest of musical forms, with an emphasis on simple, gentle melodies and equally simple harmony. There are many traditional lullabies, but the form has also been widely adopted by classical composers, where it has sometimes been greatly expanded in scope, whilst not losing contact with its musical roots.

Here are some of the loveliest lullabies ever to have been written, complete with links to the sheet music. Continue reading...

Epic Pop Covers of Classical Music

From Freddie Mercury to Billy Joel, Brian Wilson to Kate Bush, any number of pop musicians have been inspired by classical music. Some, however, have taken their fascination to the next level by making covers of their favourite classical works.

Here are some of the most epic examples of pop music composers paying homage to great works of the classical canon. Continue reading...

A Very Quick Guide To . . . Elizabethan Music

What’s it all about?

The Elizabethan era – or the “golden age” of English history as it’s still often described. An era during which this rainy and slightly insular island off the coast of northern Europe first began to establish itself on the world stage. An era which witnessed the plays of Shakespeare and Marlowe, the great exploratory voyages and naval triumphs of Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. And of course the iconic queen herself, perhaps the most celebrated of all English monarchs. Continue reading...