James Hannigan: Get To Potions Context Award-winning composer and creative director James Hannigan has composed a vast amount of video game music. His works have been featured in The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter Warhammer and Wing Commander game series, plus also in games such as Sim Theme Park, Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.17 Context Often known as the ‘Father of the Symphony’, Joseph Haydn’s legacy as a symphonist stays strong today. Haydn composed 104 symphonies over the course of his long and fruitful life, and we at Classicalexburns want to help you discover the stories and music behind all Read more…
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine Context Gabriel Fauré was born in 1845 in the south of France, and was the fifth son of six children. Out of his siblings, Gabriel was the only to pursue a career in music, as his four brothers went into journalism, and his sister became Read more…
Georges Auric: Roman Holiday Main Theme Context Distinguished French film composer Georges Auric wrote the soundtrack for the 1953 American Romantic Comedy, Roman Holiday. Starring big names such as Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, the film has been described as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”. The film follows the story Read more…
Felix Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) Context Composed in 1830 during a trip to the British Isles, Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture is one of his most-loved works. A year earlier in 1829, Mendelssohn took a trip to the Scottish island of Staffa, which has a basalt sea cave known Read more…
Robert Redhead: Quintessence Context Robert Redhead composed Quintessence in 1978 for the Melbourne Staff Band’s tour of the UK in the same year. The piece was intended not just for concert performance, but to also be used at the band’s participation in The Salvation Army International Congress in London. The Read more…
Joe Hisaishi: Birthday Context Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi is known for his experimental style and his huge collection of film soundtracks. Hisaishi has also released a number of solo albums too, which are all unique in their own way. Some explore minimalism, some electronic music, and some classical Japanese musics. Read more…
Ian Clarke: The Great Train Race Context Ian Clarke is known as being a leading figure in the flute world. A composer and performer, Clarke has performed and has had his works performed across the world. His wide-range of published works have established themselves into the core repertoire of flute Read more…
James Curnow: Trittico for Brass Band Context Commissioned in 1988 by the Swiss Brass Band Association, James Curnow’s Trittico for Brass Band was first performed at the Swiss National Championships of the same year. This Championship-level test piece has been used around the world for various contests including the Grand Read more…
Sergei Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead Context Inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s painting called Isle of the Dead, Sergei Rachmaninov’s symphonic poem of the same name was completed in 1908 during the composer’s stay in dresden. Rachmaninov saw Böcklin’s painting in 1907 whilst in Paris, but instead of the original painting, Read more…