Peter Boyer: Three Olympians Context Peter Boyer was commissioned by The Conductors Institute to compose a work for them in 2000. Three Olympians was the outcome of this commission. The original recording was done at the Abbey Road Studios, with the London Symphony Orchestra (2001). The work was recorded again Read more…
Henry Purcell: O Solitude, My Sweetest Choice Context O Solitude, My Sweetest Choice is an English song composed by Henry Purcell around the year 1685. The work is set for either a soprano or countertenor voice, and by a bass ostinato and continuo. The text was taken from English poet Read more…
Krzysztof Penderecki: Intermezzo Context Composed in 1973, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Intermezzo is composed for 24 strings. The work bears resemblance to his First Symphony in terms of style. Penderecki builds various stages of narrative throughout Intermezzo which sees each individual part shine through. The Music The timbres and textures that Read more…
Edward Elgar: Serenade for Strings Context Composed in March 1892 and premiered later on in the same year, Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings is a short work for string orchestra. The premiere saw Elgar conducting the Worcester Ladies’ Orchestral Class in a private concert. The first public premiere took place Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in D Major ‘Ghost’ Context Ludwig van Beethoven’s set of two piano trios under Opus. 70 were composed during the composer’s stay at Countess Marie von Erdödy’s estate. Both of the trios are dedicated to the Countess, and were published in 1809. The first trio, Read more…
Aulis Sallinen: Sunrise Serenade Context Finnish contemporary composer Aulis Sallinen began to learn music from a young age. He attended the prestigious Sibelius Academy and after graduating became a composition tutor there. His works have been labelled as ‘neo-romantic’ with many blurring the lines between genres that were popular in Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Streichquartett Nr. 3 ‘In Memoriam Holocaust’ Der Kontext Das Streichquartett Nr. 3, das als In Memoriam Holocaust untertitelt ist, wurde 1997 von Ruth Schönthal komponiert. Schönthal hat viele Jahre lang dieses Thema vermieden, weil sie nicht die Schoah trivialisieren wollte. 1999 forderte sie in einem Gespräch, dass andere Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: String Quartet No.3 ‘In Memorium Holocaust’ Context Composed in 1997, Ruth Schönthal’s String Quartet No.3 is subtitled ‘In Memroiam Holocaust’. For many years Schönthal had avoided this topic in her music as she didn’t want to trivialise the Holocaust. In a 1999 interview she claimed that other composers Read more…
James MacMillan: Kiss on Wood Context Composed in August 1994, James MacMillan’s Kiss on Wood is a short work originally written for violin and piano, however in recent years the cello and piano version has become more widely known. Kiss on Wood was premiered at the Harrogate Festival in 1994 Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata Concertante Context Originally written to be played on either a cello, viola or clarinet, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata Concertante was composed in 1973. Now fondly remembered as a work for clarinet and piano, that is the version this blog will discuss. There aren’t many records regarding this work, Read more…