Walter Leigh: Concertino for Harpsichord & Strings Context After receiving tutelage from Harold Darke and Paul Hindemith during his time in education, Walter Leigh (1905-1942) wrote a number of works for a range of different ensembles and soloists. Still the most popular of his works today, Leigh’s Concertino for Harpsichord Read more…
Tania León: Batá Context Born in Havana, Cuba in 1943, Tania León began learning the piano at the young age of four years old. Twenty years on, she had earned her bachelors and master degrees in music from the Carlos Alfredo Peyrellade Conservatory. After this, she made the move to New Read more…
Leonard Bernstein: On the Town – Three Dance Episodes Context This suite of three dances is taken from the 1944 Broadway music, On the Town, which Leonard Bernstein wrote the music for. The story follows the adventures of three sailors who have 24 hours in New York. The show was Read more…
Olivier Messiaen: Le merle noir Context Olivier Messiaen wrote a collection of significant works in the 20th century. His music often explored the uses of rhythm and harmony to create new and innovative ways to compose music. He also involved himself in the newer practices of total serialism and modes Read more…
Herbert Howells: Pageantry Context Herbert Howells was a well-established composer by the time his invitation to compose a work for the British Open Brass Band Championship was issued. The year was 1934 and Howells accepted the big task of writing a new piece for the top UK brass bands to Read more…
Edward Elgar: Salut d’Amour Context Composed in 1888 as an engagement present to his then fiancé Caroline Alice Roberts, Salut d’Amour is composed for solo violin and piano. Elgar subtitled the work Liebesgruss (‘Loves Greeting’). The dedication in french read as Carice, and was a combination of his wife’s name, Read more…
Alla Pavlova: Elegy for Piano and String Orchestra Context Ukrainian composer Alla Pavlova has studied at the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music Institute and the Gnesin Academy of Music in Moscow. Pavlova has resided in Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, and now the USA. She has composed a number of large-scale works for the orchestra Read more…
Joaquín Rodrigo: Fantasía para un gentilhombre Context Composed in 1954 for guitarist Andrés Segovia, Fantasía para un gentilhombre (Fantasia for a Gentleman) was premiered by Segovia and The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Enrique Jordá. Fantasía is Rodrigo’s second most popular work, after his beloved Concierto de Aranjuez. Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata) Context Composed in 1801, Beethoven’s fourteenth piano sonata is perhaps his most famous. Now known as the Moonlight Sonata, this solo work for piano is regularly performed around the world in recitals, exams, and in homes. The work was dedicated to the Austrian Read more…
Leonard Bernstein: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Context Leonard Bernstein was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on August 25th, 1918. The son of Ukrainian Jewish parents, Bernstein’s interest in music education was initially opposed by his father, who was a businessman in the area. His father’s attitude began to change Read more…