Malcolm Arnold: Padstow Lifeboat Context Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, England in October 1921. He took up playing the trumpet at age 12, and after studying and practising intensely for five years, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. Whilst at RCM, Arnold Read more…
Jennifer Higdon: American Canvas Context Inspired by three very different artists, Jennifer Higdon’s American Canvas was borne from a commission from the Dolce Suono Ensemble. In a later interview with WRTI Hidon explains her choices: “Mimi Stillman, who runs Dolce Suono, said she wanted something connected to either poetry Read more…
John Barry: Somewhere in Time Context John Barry’s score for the 1980 film Somewhere in Time remains one of his most popular scores for film. Evoking emotion for many listeners, the main titles for Somewhere in Time feature pianist Roger Williams. Although not a big box office hit, it was Read more…
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Trombone Concerto Context Composed for Solo Trombone and Military Band, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s work was composed in 1877 for fellow marine officer Leonov. The concerto was premiered in March 1878 at Kronstadt, with the international premiere not taking place until the summer of 1952 in New York City. There Read more…
George Frideric Handel: He Trusted in God 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 Jennens, with the source Read more…
Giuseppe Verdi: The Force of Destiny Overture Context Giuseppe Verdi’s La forza del destino (‘The Force of Destiny’) was first performed at the Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in Saint Petersburg in 1862. It remains one of Verdi’s most popular productions to date, with there being a number of recordings and performances Read more…
Malcolm Arnold: Four Scottish Dances Context Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, England in October 1921. He took up playing the trumpet at age 12, and after studying and practising intensely for five years, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. Whilst at RCM, Read more…
Judith Lang Zaimont: Piano Trio No.1 ‘Russian Summer’ Context Commissioned for the Tenth Anniversary of the Skaneateles Festival in 1989, Judith Lang Zaimont’s First Piano Trio is a gripping exploration of sound, timbre and texture. Often inspired by the laws of impressionism, Zaimont’s First Piano Trio displays her wonderful sense Read more…
Dmitri Kabalevsky: Symphony No.2 Conext Premiered on Christmas Day in 1934, Dmitri Kabalevsky’s Second Symphony is by far the most popular of the four he composed during his lifetime. Although first performed by the Moscow Philharmonic in 1934, the Second Symphony did not receive its international premiere until 1942, with Read more…
Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté: Piano Sonata No.4 ‘Die Befreit Sonate’ Context Born in 1899, Russian-Canadian composer Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté began learning the piano when she was just five years old. She went on to study at the Paris Conservatoire, where she studied under the tutelage of Vincent d’Indy and Alfred Brun. Throughout her Read more…