Ruth Schönthal: Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione Context Composed in 1964, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione is one of three one-movement sonatas that she composed. The other two are Sonata Breve (1972) and Sonatensatz (1973). The premiere of this sonata happened at the Delta Omicron 26th Annual WNYC Festival of American Music Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Self-Portrait of the Artist as an Older Woman Context Ruth Schönthal was a Jewish-American pianist and composer who was of German birth. Schönthal was a remarkable pianist, dedicated pedagogue and keen composer throughout her lifetime, with her taking a professorship at several universities in New York. Schönthal’s compositional Read more…
Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus Overture Context Operettas became popular in Europe from the 1850s, with the quick theatrical pace and comedic plot lines pleasing audiences for years. The infectious melodies that dominated operettas from this time fitted really well with the waltzes and polkas that Strauss had been pleasing Read more…
Johann Strauss II: Tausend und eine Nacht Context Translated as ‘Thousand and One Nights’, Johann Strauss II composed this famous waltz in 1871. The melodies for this waltz came from his first operetta Indigo und die vierzig Räuber (‘Indigo and the Forty Thieves’). Though a triumph for the composer, the Read more…
Johann Strauss II: The Blue Danube Context Johann Strauss II’s perennially popular Blue Danube Waltz was composed in 1866 for a special concert on 15th February 1867 with the Vienna Men’s Choral Association. Although now firmly in the hall of fame of classical music, The Blue Danube received a rather Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: O eterne Deus Context Translated into ‘O eternal God’, this short antiphon by Hildegard von Bingen talks about central themes of love and the dawning of humankind. She uses lots of imagery of light and divinity, making this a hopeful antiphon. The Text Latin and English translations Read more…
Johann Strauss II: Tritsch-Tractsch-Polka Context Composed in 1858 after a succesful tour of Russia, Johann Strauss II’s Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka is one of his most beloved polkas. Full of high spirits, jaunty melodies and fluttering winds, this polka has it all. The polka was premiered in a concert in Vienna on 24th Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: Cum erubuerint Context Hildegard von Bingen’s haunting choral work Cum erubuerint is a companion piece to her other antiphon Cum processit factura. Between these two works the story of Adam and Eve’s naive fall into deception and how the Virgin Mary and her Son graced the world Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: O virga ac diadema The Text 1 – O virga ac diadema purpure regis / O branch and diadem in royal purple clad, que es in clausura tua sicut lorica: / who like a shield stand in your cloister strong. 2 – Tu frondens flouristi in alia Read more…
Hildegard von Bingen: Alleluia! O virga mediatrix Context This verse is meant to accompany the singing of the Gospel at Mass. Alleluia! O virga mediatrix is one of Hildegard von Bingen’s musical depictions of the Virgin Mary’s role in salvation history. The text speaks of feminity and fertility, with the Read more…