Hello readers! It’s the last day of my August Alphabet Challenge *sobs* – I’ve done it! 26 brand-spanking new blogs written daily throughout August coinciding with the alphabet! That’s 26 NEW composers spanning from 1713 all the way to 2015 – what a journey it has been! I do hope Read more…
Hello readers, welcome to day U of the August Alphabet Challenge. Today’s blog is going differ from all the others as this is a tribute post for someone who taken from us far too soon – our Bryony. One year today since this beautiful girl was tragically killed by a Read more…
Day M is upon us and what an absolute treat I have for you today readers. I have been asked on a few separate occasions now whether I will be doing Mahler today, but to comply with my rules I shall not be doing Mahler because as part of this Read more…
Frederick Delius (1862-1934), was an English composer who, in my opinion, is not as highly rated as he should be! He’s composed pieces such as The Mass of Life and the absolutely wonderful In a Summer Garden (which I will write a blog on at some point!). I’ve chosen to look into one of Read more…
Richard Strauss: Horn Concerto No.1 It is with the saddest of hearts that I write this blog on Richard Strauss’ horn concerto no.1 in Eb major. This wonderful piece of music that showcases the french horn was really enjoyed by my late friend, Bryony. Therefore, this blog is dedicated to her Read more…
So here we are, the fourth movement, we’ve finally made it to the last movement of Mahler’s first symphony! If you’ve listened to the symphony before reading my blog you’ll probably be aware that all of the musical exploration in previous movements make the last movement worth the wait! Entitled Read more…
So here we are, the most controversial movement of this wonderful symphony, the third movement. Why is it controversial you ask? Well after a two-bar delicate timpani tonic-dominant ostinato (that plays throughout a lot of this movement) we hear a a double bass solo. This was one of the first Read more…
So after the downright exciting and powerful ending to the first movement of Mahler’s first symphony, we come to the second movement. Another modified structure, Mahler uses the framework of a minuet and trio, though replacing the minuet with an Austrian folk dance in 3/4 called a Ländler. The Ländler Read more…
The only way I can really start my new blogging website is with Gustav Mahler, a composer who is very dear to me. Mahler’s first symphony is the foundation of my third year dissertation at university, and what a massive work it is! I find it a work that requires Read more…