William Walton: Spitfire Prelude and Fugue Context Film music was bread and butter for William Walton. He established his career as a prolific British composer through his film scores. In 1942 alone there were four films released with music by Walton. The First of the Few was one of the Read more…
Ben Gaunt: Empty Hand, Peaceful Mind Context Ben Gaunt studied at the Royal Northern College of Music for a BMus degree, to which he then stayed on and studied Composition for his Master’s degree. Gaunt has recently completed his PhD in Composition at The University of Sheffield, whilst studying under Read more…
Benjamin Britten: Jubilate Deo Context Jubilate Deo was composed in 1961 at the request of H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. This joyful work is based on Psalm 100, with Britten using the English translation. This four-part choral work also features a prominent organ part. Jubilate Deo was first heard in Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow Messiah Part II Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Read more…
Florence Price: Symphony No. 1 Context Born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1887, Florence Beatrice Smith Price received early musical training from her mother. Price went to study at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music, graduating in 1906 with a Soloist’s Diploma in Organ Performance, and a Teacher’s Diploma Read more…
Philip Sparke: Pantomime Context Commissioned by euphonium player, Nicholas Childs, in 1986, Philip Sparke’s Pantomime has remained a staple work for the instrument. The work is influenced by the Commedia dell’Arte tradition, with the music encapsulating a number of different characters. The Music Pantomime has been arranged with both Read more…
Ernest Chausson: Piano Quartet in A Context A student of Jules Massenet, French Romantic composer Ernest Chausson wrote a number of highly-regarded works before his untimely death at age 44. Amongst these works is his Op.30, a Piano Quartet in A major, which encapsulates the Romantic stylings of the time, Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons October: Autumn Song Context Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his twelve character pieces for piano, The Seasons, at the same time that he was writing his popular ballet, Swan Lake. Each piece in The Seasons depicts a different month of the year in Russia. Although originally Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 Context Completed in 1812 and premiered in December 1813, Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony has certainly remained one of his most popular works. The symphony is dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries – a nobleman and patron of the arts. The premiere of the symphony was at Read more…
Giacomo Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro Context Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, Italy in 1858 and he was one of nine children. The family was known in Lucca as a local musical dynasty due to the family’s ancestors also being very much involved with music. Puccini received a general Read more…