Sergei Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Variation 18) Sergei Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a concertante work (a large-scale work which uses both the symphonic and concerto forms throughout). It was composed in 1934, Read more…
Steve Reich: Piano Phase Context Steve Reich is known for his contributions to the minimalist movement of the twentieth century. As the title suggests, minimalism is a form of art music that uses minimal musical material Read more…
Patrick Hawes: Fair Albion English composer Patrick Hawes is one of the countries leading composers. Having worked with some of the finest musicians, orchestras, conductors, record labels and radio stations, Hawes is a tour de force Read more…
Toru Takemitsu: Requiem for String Orchestra Biography Toru Takemitsu was born in 1930 in Tokyo. At a very young age, Takemitsu was called into military service. However, during his time in the military, Takemitsu became aware of Western classical Read more…
Tania León: Batá Biography 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 Read more…
Erik Satie: Je te veux Erik Satie’s instantly recognisable Je te veux was originally scored for voice and piano, however, over the years this well-loved melody has also been scored for chamber orchestra, and most famously – solo Read more…
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No.1 Grieg was simultaneously nationalistic and cosmopolitan in his approach to composition and that was due to his extensive travelling around Europe throughout his lifetime (1843-1907). Grieg believed that his music represented Read more…
Hector Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Biography Hector Berlioz was born near the French town of Grenoble on December 11, 1803. Unlike a lot of composers who were born around this time, Berlioz started music at the much Read more…
Gustav Holst: The Planets The Planets is a seven-movement orchestral suits composed by English composer, Gustav Holst (1874-1934). The suite was written between 1914 and 1916, with it still, even after 100 years, being one of the Read more…
Ola Gjeilo: Ubi Caritas Ola Gjeilo was born in 1978, in Sandvika, Norway. From an early age he was exposed to a range of different genres of music, but he took a special liking to both jazz Read more…