Martin Ellerby: Paris Sketches Context Martin Ellerby has composed a range of different genres of music including symphonies, concertos, brass band works, chamber music and much repertoire for concert/wind bands. As well as writing a vast amount of music, Ellerby has also worked with a range of different ensembles and Read more…
Dmitri Kabalevsky: The Comedians Context Born in 1904 in Saint Petersburg, Kabalevsky was encouraged at a young age to focus on “important” subjects, such as maths and science (i.e not the arts). However, against his family’s wishes, Kabalevsky accepted an offer to study at Moscow Conservatory, where he studied composition. Read more…
Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man Context Composed in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and conductor Eugene Goossens, Fanfare for the Common Man is one of Aaron Copland’s most famous works. It was inspired, in part, by a speech made earlier that same year by the U.S. Vice Read more…
J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 Context The development of the concerto, suites and recitatives were prominent throughout the baroque era, with the output of Telemann, Handel and J. S. Bach leading the way. Bach’s style, as it is often remembered, brings to life contrapuntal invention, powerful harmonic language Read more…
Grażyna Bacewicz: Concert Etude Context Remembered for her progressive compositonal style, her work is often recorded and performed in modern concert halls. Her 1943 orchestral work Overture for Symphonic Orchestra is a prime example of her keen eye for orchestration and her fiery compositional style. Born in Łódź, Poland in 1909, Bacewicz was Read more…
Alan Silvestri: Back to the Future Main Titles Context Alan Silvestri composed the soundtrack for the 1985 sci-fi movie, Back to the Future, with the direction that the music had to be big and heroic. Silvestri had worked with Director Robert Zemeckis before, and so their good working relationship helped Read more…
Ferde Grofé: Grand Canyon Suite Context Ferdinand Grofé was born in New York City in 1892, and was born into a musical family. His father was a classical baritone singer, his mother a professional cellist. As well as this, his mother Elsa also taught him the piano and violin, as Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.13 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…
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet No.2 Intimate Letters Context Composed in 1923, Leoš Janáček’s Second String Quartet was the second of two quartet commissions from the Bohemian Quartet. Subtitled Listy důvěrné (‘Intimate Letters’), the quartet is a musical representation of some 700 letters sent between Janáček and Kamila Stösslová. After meeting Read more…
Edward Elgar: Romance for Bassoon Genesis of Romance for Bassoon Composed in 1910 for the principal bassoonist of the London Symphony Orchestra – Edwin F James – this work is from the Edward Elgar’s most creative periods. Romance for Bassoon was composed between two of Elgar’s largest works, the Violin Read more…