Felix Mendelssohn: String Quintet No.1 Context Felix Mendelssohn’s First String Quintet (Op.18) was composed in 1826, and then revised later in 1832. The main cause for the revision was the composer’s dissatisfaction with the original minuet movement, so instead Mendelssohn wrote in a slow movement in memory of violinist Eduard Read more…
Maurice Ravel: Jeux d’eau Context Composed in 1901 when Maurice Ravel was under the tutelage of Gabriel Fauré, Jeux d’eau (‘Fountains’ / ‘Water Games’) was dedicated to the composer’s tutor. The first premiere of the piece came at a private viewing for the Les Apaches. The public premiere came in Read more…
Maurice Ravel: La Valse Context Maurice Ravel composed La Valse between 1919 and 1920, with the premiere taking place on 12th December 1920 in Paris. Although originally conceived as music for ballet, La Valse is now more commonly heard as a concert piece. The commission from the work came from 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…
Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin Context Originally a six-movement solo composition for piano, Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin was composed between 1914 and 1917. ‘Tombeau’ is a musical term from the Baroque era meaning ‘a piece written as a memorial.’ Every movement of Le Tombeau de Couperin is dedicated to the memory of Read more…
Philip Glass: A Brief History of Time Titles Context Philip Glass composed the music for the 1991 biographical film, A Brief History of Time, which is based on the life and times of physicist Stephen Hawking. Directed by Errol Morris, Glass was an easy option as the two had collaborated Read more…
Philip Glass: Etude No.1 Context Philip Glass’ first set of Etudes were composed in the mid 1990s. In a recent interview about this set of works he commented saying: “The point of the etudes, originally, was to strengthen my piano playing and that actually worked. I actually got to Read more…
Philip Glass: Morning Passages Context Composed as part of the award-winning soundtrack for the 2002 film The Hours, Philip Glass’ Morning Passages is a hypnotic work for solo piano. Glass’ soundtrack won a BAFTA for ‘Best Film Music, alongside receiving nominations for an Academy Award for ‘Best Original Score’, a Read more…
Philip Glass: Etude No. 2 Context Philip Glass’ first set of Etudes were composed in the mid 1990s. In a recent interview about this set of works he commented saying: “The point of the etudes, originally, was to strengthen my piano playing and that actually worked. I actually got Read more…
Gustav Holst: A Moorside Suite Context Gustav Holst’s A Moorside Suite is the composer’s only work for brass band. Commissioned by the BBC and the National Brass Band Festival Committee in 1927, A Moorside Suite was used for the final of the 1928 National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, Read more…