Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Andante for Flute & Orchestra K.315 Context Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his Andante for Flute & Orchestra in 1778, after a commission came through from Ferdinand De Jean. De Jean also commissioned K.313, also known as Flute Concerto No.1 in G major. However, the issue was that Read more…
Harry Gregson-Williams: A Narnia Lullaby Context Harry Gregson-Williams composed the score for the 2005 fantasy film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Gregson-Williams’ soundtrack employs a huge number of orchestral musicians, a large mixed voice choir, soloists and vocalists. Gregson-Williams Read more…
George Frideric Handel: For Unto Us A Child Is Born 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…
Ernst von Dohnányi: Piano Concerto No.1 Context As well as being a great pianist and conductor, Ernst von Dohnányi (1877-1960) is most fondly remembered for being a composer. He composed a number of works that were largely popular during his time, although most but his chamber works seem to be Read more…
Rosy Wertheim: String Quartet Context The Dutch composer, Rosy Wertheim (1888-1949), was one of the first female composers who completed her professional music education and garnered some international acclaim for her music. Although spending the start and end of her life in her homeland of the Netherlands, Wertheim travelled all Read more…
Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A Context Edvard Grieg composed his famous Piano Concerto in 1868, and remained the only completed concerto by the composer. Grieg was the intended soloist for the 1869 premiere in Copenhagen, however the 25-year old composer had another commitment. Edmond Neupert was drafted in as Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Symphony No.1 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…
Jerry Goldsmith: Suite from Mulan Context Jerry Goldsmith composed the score for the 1998 Disney film, Mulan, with Matthew Wilder and David Zippel writing the songs. The original soundtrack was released in 1998 and was conducted by Goldsmith. The score was nominated for an Academy Award for ‘Best Original Musical Read more…
Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No.5 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…
Francis Poulenc: Mélancolie Context Composed in war-torn France in 1940, Francis Poulenc’s Mélancolie for solo piano certainly added a glimmer of light into the composer’s archives. One of Poulenc’s longest works for the piano, Mélancolie features a range of different moods and techniques that Poulenc had used in previous works. Read more…