Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in E Major Context Composed potentially between c.1717-1723, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Violin Concerto in E major was written to satisfy the requirements of Prince Leopold. The Prince wanted Bach to compose large numbers of secular music, as well as his ever-popular sacred works. It is Read more…
Maree Docia: At Last, Sunrise Context Hidden in the deep depths of Spotify you can find this simple track by Maree Docia. At Last, Sunrise, along with its adorable artwork, is a short work for piano and string ensemble. What is truly intriguing is that there is absolutely no information Read more…
George Gershwin: Walking the Dog Context George Gershwin’s short ditty Walking the Dog has become a staple work for clarinettists. Composed in 1937, the work was originally used for the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film score Shall We Dance. Interestingly, most of the score from the film has remained Read more…
Dmitri Shostakovich: Jazz Suite No.1 Context Composed in 1934 when Dmitri Shostakovich was 28 years old, his Jazz Suite No.1 was part of his genre-bending stage. The first performance of the work took place on March 24th, 1934 in Leningrad. The orchestration is not for a regular orchestra. Shostakovich handpicks Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks Context George Frideric Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks was originally composed for a suite of wind instruments. Handel re-orchestrated the suite for an orchestra after the original performance. The suite was composed in 1749 through the request of George II of Read more…
Max Richter: On the Nature of Daylight Context As part of Max Richter’s 2004 album The Blue Notebooks, On the Nature of Daylight has received international acclaim. The album itself is a protest album about the 2003 Iraq War paired with feelings and emotions from Richter’s troubled childhood. The Blue Read more…
Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik Context Trauermusik was composed on the 21st January 1936 at very short notice in memory of King George V, who had passed away the previous night. The English translation of the title is ‘Funeral Music’, although it is always known by its German name. On the 19th Read more…
Paul Hindemith: Plöner Musiktag – Morgenmusik Context Composed and premiered in 1932, Paul Hindermith’s Plöner Musiktag is a set of four works that sets a whole day to music. The four movements are: Morgenmusik (Morning Music) Tafelmusik (Table Music) Kantate (Cantata) Abendkonzert (Evening Concert) Each movement represents a different Read more…
Johann Sebastian Bach: Zion hört die Wächter singen Context J. S. Bach’s church cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (‘Awake, calls the voice to us’) was composed for the 27th Sunday after Trinity. It’s first performance happened on the 25th November 1731. This work completed Bach’s second annual cycle Read more…
Carl Orff: In Trutina Context Composed between 1935-36, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana was described by the composer as a “scenic cantata.” Based on 24 poems from the medieval collection with the same name, Carmina Burana is a large-scale 25-movement work. Generally the cantata is considered to be heavily influenced by Read more…