Ruth Schönthal: Streichquartett Nr. 3 ‘In Memoriam Holocaust’ Der Kontext Das Streichquartett Nr. 3, das als In Memoriam Holocaust untertitelt ist, wurde 1997 von Ruth Schönthal komponiert. Schönthal hat viele Jahre lang dieses Thema vermieden, weil sie nicht die Schoah trivialisieren wollte. 1999 forderte sie in einem Gespräch, dass andere Read more…
Interview with Violinist Fenella Humphreys Ahead of her exciting Beethoven 250 concert in Sheffield with the Sheffield Philharmonic Orchestra next month, I caught up with violinist Fenella Humphreys to talk all things Beethoven 250 and playing the violin: 1) When did you start playing the violin? What drew you to Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: String Quartet No.3 ‘In Memorium Holocaust’ Context Composed in 1997, Ruth Schönthal’s String Quartet No.3 is subtitled ‘In Memroiam Holocaust’. For many years Schönthal had avoided this topic in her music as she didn’t want to trivialise the Holocaust. In a 1999 interview she claimed that other composers Read more…
James MacMillan: Kiss on Wood Context Composed in August 1994, James MacMillan’s Kiss on Wood is a short work originally written for violin and piano, however in recent years the cello and piano version has become more widely known. Kiss on Wood was premiered at the Harrogate Festival in 1994 Read more…
Eric Coates: The Dambusters March Context Composed as the theme to the 1955 British war film, The Dam Busters, Eric Coates’ work of the same name is one his most beloved works. The music has become synonymous with both the film and the real Operation Chastise. Often used as an Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione Der historische Kontext Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione wurde 1964 von Ruth Schönthal komponiert. Schönthal komponierte zwei weiteren einsätzigen Sonaten, die Sonate Breve (1972) und Sonatensatz (1973) heißen. Die Erstaufführung fand bei dem 26. jährlichen “Delta Omicron WNYC” Festspiel der amerikanischen Musik in der New York Stadtbücherei Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata Concertante Context Originally written to be played on either a cello, viola or clarinet, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata Concertante was composed in 1973. Now fondly remembered as a work for clarinet and piano, that is the version this blog will discuss. There aren’t many records regarding this work, Read more…
Gustav Mahler: Blumine Context Composed in 1884 as the original second movement of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony, Blumine received its premiere on November 20th 1889 in Budapest. The soon-to-be-doomed second movement was taken out of the First Symphony after the third performance, which Mahler conducted in 1894 in Weimar. The Read more…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in E Major Context Composed potentially between c.1717-1723, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Concerto in E major was written to satisfy the requirements of Prince Leopold. The Prince wanted Bach to compose large numbers of secular music, as well as his ever-popular sacred works. It is Read more…
John Williams: Leaving Hogwarts Context John Williams’ score for Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone has been the basis for all of the Harry Potter film scores. Unlike many other soundtracks, this one in particular is very popular, with most tracks being instantly recognisable. Williams is intelligent in the way he orchestrates previous themes Read more…