Astor Piazzolla: Libertango Context Composed in 1974 whilst in Milan, Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango is one of his most recognisable works. A significant shift from the traditional tango form to the tango nuevo, Libertango incorporates elements of jazz to create a new hybrid genre. Piazzolla is remembered for paving the way 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…
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet Context Composed when he was 28 years old, Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet was completed in April 1903. The work was premiered by the Heymann Quartet at a concert held by the Société Nationale de Musique the following year. Ravel was greatly influenced and inspired by Claude Read more…
Antonio Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in E minor Context Antonio Vivaldi composed a vast amount of concertos for a range of different instruments. No less than 230 of those are for violin, with the second most popular concerto soloist being the bassoon for Vivaldi. Out of the 39 bassoon concertos that Read more…
Hubert Parry: String Quartet No.1 Context Composed in 1867 at the tender age of 18, Hubert Parry’s First String Quartet was the composer’s first delve into the chamber music genre. Although largely remembered for his vocal music, Parry’s quartets are well worth a listen. The Music Set into three Read more…
Ruth Gipps: Rhapsody for Clarinet and String Quartet Context By the time of her death in 1999, Ruth Gipps had an incredible oeuvre of music to represent her career throughout the 20th century. She initially studied oboe with Léon Goossens, piano with Arthur Alexander and composition with Gordon Jacob and Read more…
Domenico Zipoli: Elevazione for Cello and Oboe Context Domenico Zipoli (1688-1726)was an Italian Baroque composer. Not much is known about Zipoli and his life, however we do know that he became a Jesuit so he could teach music in Paraguay and Peru. He is often remembered for being one of 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…
Gerald Finzi: Eclogue Context Although largely remembered now as a choral composer, Gerald Finzi also wrote some breathtaking orchestral music. Eclogue is composed for a solo piano and string orchestra and was originally intended to be part of a grand piano concerto that Finzi wanted to write in the late 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…