Felix Mendelssohn: The Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave) Context Composed in 1830 during a trip to the British Isles, Felix Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture is one of his most-loved works. A year earlier in 1829, Mendelssohn took a trip to the Scottish island of Staffa, which has a basalt sea cave known Read more…
Sergei Rachmaninov: Isle of the Dead Context Inspired by Arnold Böcklin’s painting called Isle of the Dead, Sergei Rachmaninov’s symphonic poem of the same name was completed in 1908 during the composer’s stay in dresden. Rachmaninov saw Böcklin’s painting in 1907 whilst in Paris, but instead of the original painting, Read more…
Joseph Haydn: Trumpet Concerto Context Composed in 1796, Joseph Haydn’s ever-popular Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major was his last major orchestral work. At this point in his life, Haydn had just moved back to Vienna, and so the first performance of the concerto was on 28th March 1800 at the Read more…
William Walton: Orb and Sceptre Context William Walton’s famous march for orchestra, Orb and Sceptre, was composed for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953. Walton is often remembered for also composing the march for the coronation of George VI in 1937, also known as Crown Imperial. Read more…
Michael Torke: Javelin Context Michael Torke’s (1961-) 1994 work Javelin came after a commission from the Atlanta Committee for the Olympics. They were about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Torke took on the challenge and the work received its premiere on 8th September, 1994 by Read more…
Ferdinand Hérold: Zampa Overture Context Ferdinand Hérold’s comic opera, Zampa was premiered in Paris in May 1831. Although a highly popular production in Europe and the USA during the next fifty years, by the time of the turn of the century, Zampa had faded in popularity. Its overture, however, has 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…
Ann Southam: Webster’s Spin Context After years of writing electronic music, Canadian composer Ann Southam abandoned the tapes and tracks and focused on more classically-inclined pieces. Webster’s Spin, a composition for string orchestra, was composed in 1993 after a commission came from the CBC. The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra premiered the Read more…
Felix Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture Context After reading (and hating) Victor Hugo’s Ruy Blas, Felix Mendelssohn was asked to write an overture based on the grim story in 1839. The play, based in 18th-century Spain, tells the story of Ruy Blas, a servant who is tricked by his master, Don Read more…
Joan Tower: Violin Concerto Context Joan Tower was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1938. When Tower was nine, her family moved to Bolivia, which she describes as an integral part of her compositional style. Upon her father’s insistence, she learnt the piano and had consistent musical training. Her Read more…