Interview with Christopher Tin Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning composer of concert and media music. Time Magazine calls his music ‘rousing’ and ‘anthemic’, while The Guardian calls it ‘joyful’ and ‘an intelligent meeting of melody and theme’. His music has been performed and premiered in many of the world’s Read more…
Eric Nathan: The Space of a Door Context Composed in 2016 from a commission from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Eric Nathan’s The Space of a Door is a thrilling orchestral work. The work is dedicated to Music Director Andris Nelsons, Anthony Fogg and the BSO members. Nathan writes about receiving Read more…
Morfydd Llwyn Owen: Four Welsh Impressions Context Although Welsh composer Morfydd Llwyn Owen only composed seriously for the last 10 years of her short life, her huge catalogue showcases her musical styles and genres she used. Composed between 1914-15, Four Welsh Impressions sits as part of Owen’s solo piano catalogue. Read more…
Bohuslav Martinů: Oboe Concerto Context One of the leading Czech composers during the 20th Century, Bohuslav Martinů wrote over 400 works, including 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a huge body of chamber and orchestral works. After finding his feet in the style of Neoclassicism, Martinů used Igor Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons May: White Nights Context Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his twelve character pieces for piano, The Seasons, at the same time that he was writing his popular ballet, Swan Lake. Each piece in The Seasons depicts a different month of the year in Russia. Although originally Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.6 ‘Le Matin’ 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 Read more…
Interview with Tine Thing Helselth Since the beginning of her career, Norwegian trumpeter Tine Thing Helseth has championed the trumpet repertoire amongst audiences on all six continents, meriting the highest critical praise for her soulful, lyrical sound and collaborative approach to music-making. An artist who challenges the boundaries of genre Read more…
Imogen Holst: String Quintet Context As the only child of British composer, Gustav Holst, Imogen Holst (1907-1984) is fondly remembered for being a popular composer, arranger, administrator, teacher and conductor. Her oeuvre is comprised of works for a number of different ensembles and genres, making her a rather diverse composer. Read more…
Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No.11 Context Johannes Brahms completed his 21 Hungarian Dances by 1879, and they still remain one his most popular collections of music. All of the dances are based on traditional Hungarian folk tunes and range from c.1 minute to 6 minutes in duration. Some of the Read more…
Ruth Gipps: Ambarvalia Context By the time of her death in 1999, Ruth Gipps had an incredible oeuvre of music to represent her career throughout the 20th century. She initially studied oboe with Léon Goossens, piano with Arthur Alexander and composition with Gordon Jacob and Ralph Vaughan Williams whilst she Read more…