Dobrinka Tabakova: Spinning a Yarn Context Dobrinka Tabakova was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria to a music-loving family in 1980. At age 11, Tabakova moved to London and has since stayed there. She studied at the Royal Academy of Music Junior Department, specialising in composition, piano and conducting. From there, Tabakova Read more…
Paul Dukas: Fanfare from La Péri Context Paul Dukas composed the music for the 1912 ballet La Péri just the year before and was initially titled Poème dansé en un tableau. The last published work from Dukas, the music is said to be some of his most mature and skilled Read more…
Malcolm Arnold: Brass Quintet No.1 Context Composed in 1961 specifically for the New York Brass Quintet, Malcolm Arnold’s Brass Quintet No.1 was an instant hit. Since its inception the work has remained one of Arnold’s most-performed chamber works amongst high-level brass ensembles. It was one of the trailblazing works that Read more…
Arvo Pärt: Summa Context Summa was first composed in 1978 by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt as a choral work. Some twelve years later, Pärt arranged Summa for string orchestra, which is perhaps the more-performed version today (and the version this blog will focus on). The work reflects the original text Read more…
Patrick Nunn: Escape Velocity Context Patrick Nunn was born in Kent, UK in 1969. He studied composition at Dartington College of Arts, Welsh College of Music and Drama and at the Royal Academy of Music, where he received his PhD in composition. Nunn has a large catalogue of music which has Read more…
Gabriel Fauré: Dolly Suite Context Gabriel Fauré’s set of piano duets, also known as the Dolly Suite, were composed between 1893-96. Each duet marks the birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions in the life of the daughter of Fauré’s mistress, Emma Bardac. The daughter, Régina-Hélène Bardac, was known as Dolly to Read more…
Philip Glass: Music in Similar Motion Context Composed in 1969, Philip Glass’ Music in Similar Motion is an open score that can be played by any group of instruments. As with the minimalist tradition, Music in Similar Motion is a collection of repeated figures all moving in the same direction, Read more…
Francis Poulenc: Cello Sonata Context Francis Poulenc began sketching his Cello Sonata in 1940, but the work was considered complete until 1948. The premiere performance happened in Paris in May 1949, with Poulenc playing the piano and Pierre Fournier, to whom the piece is dedicated, playing the cello. Fournier helped Read more…
William Walton: Two Pieces from Henry V No.2 – Touch Her Soft Lips and Part Context William Walton was asked to compose the music for the 1944 film of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Walton himself did not create a suite from the music he composed for this film, however Sir Malcolm Read more…
William Walton: Two Pieces from Henry V No.1 Passacaglia – The Death of Falstaff Context William Walton was asked to compose the music for the 1944 film of Shakespeare’s Henry V. Walton himself did not create a suite from the music he composed for this film, however Sir Malcolm Sargent Read more…