Albéric Magnard: Hymne à Vénus Context Although now relatively unknown in modern programming, Albéric Magnard’s collection of works reflects the impressionistic and highly romantic stylings of turn-of-the-century French classical music. His expansive orchestral works, rich with harmony and textures, highlights his time studying under Vincent d’Indy and Jules Massenet whilst Read more…
Leroy Anderson: The Waltzing Cat Context Composed in 1950, Leroy Anderson’s light orchestral piece The Waltzing Cat is among a collection of his most charming works. The Boston Pops Orchestra performed the piece first as part of a recording that Anderson had set up in September 1950. In the programme Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Coriolan Overture Context Composed in 1807, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture was used in Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s tragedy of the same name. The overture received its concert premiere in 1807 at a private concert for Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. At the same concert Beethoven also Read more…
Pinar Toprak: Captain Marvel Theme Context Turkish-American composer Pinar Toprak has composed a number of soundtracks for film, television and video games. She has been the recipient of two International Film Music Critic Association Awards as well as receiving numerous nominations for other works. Soundtracks include The Lightkeepers (2009), The 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…
Patrick Doyle: Harry in Winter Context With the first three Harry Potter films accompanied by music from American composer John Williams, the fourth instalment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, saw music by Scottish film composer Patrick Doyle. Doyle only composed for this one film in the Harry Potter Read more…
Antonio Vivaldi: Bassoon Concerto in E minor Context Antonio Vivaldi composed a vast amount of concertos for a range of different instruments. No less than 230 of those are for violin, with the second most popular concerto soloist being the bassoon for Vivaldi. Out of the 39 bassoon concertos that Read more…
Vincent D’Indy: Symphonie Cévenole Context The French composer and pedagogue Vincent d’Indy (1851-1931) composed and published many works over his lifetime, although sadly now many of his works are seldom heard in concerts. One of the only works that does receive performances is Symphonie sur un chant montagnard français (‘Symphony Read more…
Bedřich Smetana: Triumphal Symphony Context Composed in 1853-54, Bedřich Smetana’s only formal symphony, also known as the ‘Triumphal’ or ‘Festive’, is an interesting work. It was written ironically for an event that never actually happened. The hope of Emperor Franz Josef becoming the King of Bohemia following his royal marriage 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…