Ludwig van Beethoven: Egmont Overture Context The Egmont Overture is the opening of a set of incidental music that Beethoven was commissioned to write for a 1787 play of the same name by Johann Wolfgang van Goethe. The music was composed between 1809-1810. The story centres around Dutch nobleman, Count Egmont – whose Read more…
Tony Banks: Reveille Context Known for being the keyboardist and founding member of the rock group Genesis, it might come as a surprise that Tony Banks has now released three classical albums. Five (5) follows Seven: A Suite for Orchestra (2004) and Six Pieces for Orchestra (2012). It was released Read more…
Nino Rota: The Godfather Waltz Context Nino Rota is fondly remembered for his film soundtracks, with The Godfather being at the top of that list. The 1972 film, directed byFrancis Ford Coppola, homes some of Rota’s most memorable music. Rota’s score was initially nominated for an Academy Award, however that Read more…
Gioachino Rossini: The Barber of Seville Overture Context Gioachino Rossini’s highly popular comic opera, The Barber of Seville was premiered on 20th February 1816 at the Teatro Argentina in Rome. The libretto for the opera was based on Pierre Beaumarchais’s comedy Le Barbier de Séville (1775). Rossini composed some of Read more…
Claude Debussy: Suite bergamasque Context Composed between the years 1890 and 1905, Suite bergamasque has remained one of Claude Debussy’s most popular works for the piano. The suite was heavily revised before its publication in 1905, and many of the names were changed. Debussy used names that came from Paul Read more…
Goff Richards: Oceans Context Commissioned from the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival in 1984, Goff Richards’ Oceans was premiered at the 60th Anniversary Festival of the Bugle Contest in Cornwall. A highly descriptive and challenging piece, Oceans has interestingly been used as a set test piece for the Championship, First Read more…
Germaine Tailleferre: String Quartet Context French composer Germaine Tailleferre (1892-1983) composed her String Quartet over a creative two-year period between 1917-1919. Tailleferre dedicated the work to the famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein. When the work was premiered in 1919, Tailleferre was invited to join Nouveaux Jeunes (later known as Les Six), Read more…
Gustav Holst: Brook Green Suite Context Gustav Holst composed his 1933 Brook Green Suite for the St Paul’s Girls’ School junior string orchestra. Written whilst in hospital just a year before his death, Holst wanted to create a work that was easy enough for the younger members of the orchestra Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence Context Composed as a response to being awarded an honorary membership of the Saint Petersburg Chamber Music Society in 1886, Tchaikovsky pledged that he would “write and dedicate to your society some sort of chamber music work.” Thus, Souvenir de Florence was born by Read more…
Paul Moravec: Autumn Song Context Paul Moravec (1957-) is an award-winning American composer who is based in New York. After studying composition at Harvard University and then subsequently taking up an MA and a Doctorate at Columbia University, Moravec became a professional composer and pedagogue. Moravec is currently a Professor Read more…