Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man Context Composed in 1942 for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and conductor Eugene Goossens, Fanfare for the Common Man is one of Aaron Copland’s most famous works. It was inspired, in part, by a speech made earlier that same year by the U.S. Vice 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…
Soweto String Quartet: Sophiatown Context Sophiatown is a composition that appears on the second studio by Soweto String Quartet – Renaissance. Released in 1996, the album has received international success, as well as winning the ‘Best Instrumental Performance’ award at the South African Music Awards in 1997. The album blends 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…
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major Context Antonio Vivaldi’s Double Trumpet Concerto in C Major has stood the test of time and is still one of his most popular compositions. It has become somewhat of an enigma as we’re unsure when it was written, who it was Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Souvenir de Florence Context Composed as a response to being awarded an honorary membership of the Saint Petersburg Chamber Music Society in 1886, Tchaikovsky pledged that he would “write and dedicate to your society some sort of chamber music work.” Thus, Souvenir de Florence was born by 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…