Herbert Howells: Rhapsodic Quintet The Music Rhapsodic Quintet sketches date back to 1919, just after World War I. A landmark work for British chamber music, the quintet acts as a timestamp of times gone by, vividly creating its own epoch for the listener to delve into. Set into one flowing Read more…
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…
J. S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 Context The development of the concerto, suites and recitatives were prominent throughout the baroque era, with the output of Telemann, Handel and J. S. Bach leading the way. Bach’s style, as it is often remembered, brings to life contrapuntal invention, powerful harmonic language Read more…
Leoš Janáček: String Quartet No.2 Intimate Letters Context Composed in 1923, Leoš Janáček’s Second String Quartet was the second of two quartet commissions from the Bohemian Quartet. Subtitled Listy důvěrné (‘Intimate Letters’), the quartet is a musical representation of some 700 letters sent between Janáček and Kamila Stösslová. After meeting Read more…
Ramin Djawadi: Game of Thrones Main Title Context Iranian-German film composer Ramin Djawadi (1974-) is currently best-known for his music for the HBO series Game of Thrones, the 2008 Marvel film Iron Man and television series Prison Break. He has been nominated for numerous awards including a Grammy for Game Read more…
Sofia Gubaidulina: Duo for Two Bassoons Context Sofia Gubaidulina was born and raised in the Kazan region of the (former) Soviet Union. Whilst growing up she was influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures due to her father being a Muslim, and her mother a Russian Orthodox. Whilst starting her Read more…
Malcolm Arnold: Three Sea Shanties Context Composed in 1943 for Wind Quintet, Malcolm Arnold’s Three Sea Shanties are full of character and exciting twists and turns. Set into three movements, each little ditty pays homage to a different sea shanty. The three short movements offer a playful take on these Read more…
Ben Gaunt: Empty Hand, Peaceful Mind Context Ben Gaunt studied at the Royal Northern College of Music for a BMus degree, to which he then stayed on and studied Composition for his Master’s degree. Gaunt has recently completed his PhD in Composition at The University of Sheffield, whilst studying under Read more…
Ernest Chausson: Piano Quartet in A Context A student of Jules Massenet, French Romantic composer Ernest Chausson wrote a number of highly-regarded works before his untimely death at age 44. Amongst these works is his Op.30, a Piano Quartet in A major, which encapsulates the Romantic stylings of the time, Read more…
Dobrinka Tabakova: Whispered Lullaby 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 earned Read more…