Malcolm Arnold: Symphony No.8 Context Commissioned by the Rustam K. Kermani Foundation in 1978, Malcolm Arnold’s Eighth Symphony was his penultimate symphony. The premiere of the symphony happened in New York a year later by the Albany Symphony Orchestra conducted by Julius Hegyi. Of all nine Arnold symphonies, the Eighth Read more…
Ethel Smyth: The Wreckers Overture Context Composed and premiered in 1906, The Wreckers is one of Dame Ethel Smyth’s most intriguing operas. The original libretto was in French and was written by Henry Brewster. Smyth tried hard to get a French performance of the opera, however the first performance was Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Thus Saith the Lord Messiah Part I Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens, with the source Read more…
Elmer Bernstein: The Great Escape Main Title Context Elmer Bernstein is fondly remembered as being one of the leading film composers of the 20th Century. His music is some of the most recognisable, with his scores for The Magnificent Seven (1960), The Great Escape (1963) and Ghostbusters (1984) being particular Read more…
Ethel Smyth: Fȇte Galante Overture Context Dame Ethel Smyth is one of the most important British composers that bridged the gap between the 19th and 20th centuries. She composed a number of orchestral works, chamber music, songs and six operas. Also a talented writer, Smyth also penned 9 books (in Read more…
Aaron Copland: John Henry Context Originally composed in 1940 for radio broadcast, Aaron Copland’s John Henry is a short orchestral piece based on the popular folk ballad. Aimed at high school-ability players, as well as listeners, Copland wanted to make sure that this piece fitted with their expectations: “Knowing Read more…
Gioachino Rossini: Le siège de Corinthe Overture Context Le siège de Corinthe is the name of an 1826 opera by Gioachino Rossini. With a French libretto by Luigi Blocchi and Alexandre Soumet, the opera is based on Rossini’s re-worked music from his 1820 opera, Maometto II. His first French opera, Read more…
Benjamin Britten: Simple Symphony Context Composed between 1933-34, Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony was based on a number of smaller works that the composer had written when he was very young: “This Simple Symphony is entirely based on material from works which the composer wrote between the ages of nine Read more…
Danny Elfman: Introduction to Edward Scissorhands Context Danny Elfman and Tim Burton reunited for the fourth time when they created Edward Scissorhands in 1990. Elfman’s score was nominated for a number of awards including a Grammy for ‘Best Original Score.’ Elfman has said on many occasions how much personal this Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Sinfony to Messiah Messiah Part I Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens, with the source being Read more…