Bohuslav Martinů: String Sextet Context Bohuslav Martinů composed his String Sextet in under a week in May 1932. The sextet was popular and won awards, which surprised Martinů somewhat. Even though it was popular among Martinů’s contemporaries, the work itself was not published until 1947 – 14 years after it Read more…
César Franck: Piano Quintet in F minor Context César Franck’s highly emotional Piano Quintet sits strongly beside the French composer’s most popular works. Premiered in 1880 by the Marsick Quartet and Camille Saint-Saëns at the piano, the quintet was dedicated to Saint-Saëns. Although now regarded as one of Franck’s best Read more…
Toru Takemitsu: Requiem for String Orchestra Context 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 music. During the post-war U.S. occupation of Japan, Takemistu was taken ill for a long Read more…
Nancy Dalberg: String Quartet No.1 Context Nancy Dalberg (1881-1949) was a Danish composer. A trained pianist, Dalberg had dreams of attending the Royal Conservatory in Copenhagen, but sadly her father refused her this. After being treated for a medical complication in her arm, Dalberg took up composition instead. She took Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted Messiah Part I 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 Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Comfort Ye, My People Messiah Part I 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…
Cindy McTee: Adagio for String Orchestra Context Cindy McTee was born in 1953 in Washington. Her father played the trumpet and her mother played the clarinet, so from an early age, McTee was involved with music. By age six she was receiving piano lessons, and her teacher at the time encouraged her Read more…
Ethel Smyth: Trio for Piano, Violin & Cello Context Dame Ethel Smyth is one of the most important British composers that bridged the gap between the 19th and 20th centuries. She composed a number of orchestral works, chamber music, songs and six operas. Also a talented writer, Smyth also penned Read more…
Arnold Bax: Hardanger The Music Composed in 1927 during his ‘middle period’ of composition, Arnold Bax’s Hardanger for two pianos shows off the composers talents as a performer. Although often remembered and celebrated for his orchestral works, Bax also composed many works for piano. A gifted pianist himself, his piano Read more…
Josef Suk: 4 Pieces for Violin & Piano Context Composed in the spring of 1900, Josef Suk’s 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano (Op.17) was dedicated to fellow violinist Karel Hoffmann. This small suite of music shows the breadth of Suk’s penmanship and showcases his technical writing when it comes Read more…