John Williams: Flying to Neverland Context John Williams was brought on board for Stephen Spielberg’s 1991 film, Hook, as it was originally intended to be a musical. After this idea was scrapped, Williams began working on the orchestral soundtrack. During the recording of the soundtrack, Williams conducted the orchestra. The Read more…
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Petite Suite Context Born in August 1875 in Holborn, London, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor started learning the violin at a young age. At first it was Coleridge-Taylor’s maternal grandfather that taught him until he saw his obvious abilities and paid for him to have professional lessons. At age 15, Coleridge-Taylor Read more…
Ron Goodwin: 633 Squadron Context English composer Ron Goodwin was asked to write the music for the 1964 war film 633 Squadron a year before the release of the film. The main title theme was an instant hit and has since been arranged for a number of different ensembles, as Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.2 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…
Rebecca Clarke: Chinese Puzzle Context Composed in 1921 for solo violin and piano, Rebecca Clarke’s Chinese Puzzle is an intricate study for the violin. Using the pentatonic scale, Clarke bases this short study on typical Oriental themes and harmony. The Music Throughout the entirety of Chinese Puzzle, the violin Read more…
John Williams: Olympic Fanfare and Theme Context Commissioned by the Los Angeles Olympic Organising Committee for the 1984 Summer Olympics, John Williams had a big task on his hands. The premiere took place in July of 1984 at the Hollywood Bowl, which was then broadcast across the USA. Williams then Read more…
Alban Berg: Vier Stücke Context Vier Stücke was composed in 1913 and are perhaps Berg’s only true miniatures. His wife Helene writes that he composed them in June, which means it was in the same month as his fateful visit to his tutor, Schoenberg. It is recorded that this meeting Read more…
George Frideric Handel: There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field Messiah Part I Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens, Read more…
Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No.7 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…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons February: Carnival 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 composed Read more…