Ruth Schönthal: Sonata Concertante Context Originally written to be played on either a cello, viola or clarinet, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata Concertante was composed in 1973. Now fondly remembered as a work for clarinet and piano, that is the version this blog will discuss. There aren’t many records regarding this work, Read more…
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 Ouvertüre Der historische Kontext Seit der 1850er wurden den Operetten beliebt in Europa, aufgrund des schnellen theatralischen Tempo und komödiantischer Handlungen, die dem Publikum jahrelang gefallen. Die ansteckenden Melodien, die die Operetten zu dieser Zeit dominierte, haben ganz gut mit den Walzern und Polka von 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…
Johann Strauss II: An der schönen, blauen Donau Der Kontext Der beständige populäre An der schönen, blauen Donau wurde 1866 von Johann Strauss II für ein besonderes Konzert am 15. Februar 1867 mit dem Wiener Männergesang-Verein komponiert. Obwohl der Walzer jetzt einen Platz in der Ruhmeshalle der klassischen Musik hat, 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…