Henryk Górecki: Harpsichord Concerto Context Henryk Górecki’s Harpsichord Concerto was composed at the request of Andrzej Chłopecki, head of Polish Radio Music Station. The commission came in 1980 at a time when Górecki was exploring pure instrumental music after more than a decade of dedicating himself to vocal and choral Read more…
Elena Kats-Chernin: Dance of the Paper Umbrellas Context Born in 1957, Elena Kats-Chernin is one of Australia’s leading composers. She was born in Uzbekistan and immigrated to Australia in the 1970s, where she graduated from the New South Wales Conservatory of Music in 1980. She was awarded the DAAD German Read more…
Pierre Rode: Violin Concerto No.11 Context Jacques Pierre Joseph Rode (1774-1830), also known as Pierre Rode, was a French violinist and composer. Rode was a pupil of Giovanni Battista viotti, who considered Rode to be the most talented student he ever taught. As a virtuoso violinist, Rode served as violin Read more…
John Adams: Harmonielehre Context John Adams’ epic symphonic work Harmonielehre was composed in 1985. The title derives from the German for ‘Study of Harmony’, which is also a reference to Arnold Schoenberg’s 1911 theory book of the same name. Adam has commented that Harmonielehre was inspired by a dream that Read more…
Leroy Anderson: The Typewriter Context Composed in 1950 during a trip to Woodbury, Connecticut, Leroy Anderson’s The Typewriter is one of his most iconic works. Anderson conducted the Boston Pops Orchestra to make a recording of the piece in 1953. Since then The Typewriter has been arranged for string orchestra, Read more…
Peter Boyer: Three Olympians Context Peter Boyer was commissioned by The Conductors Institute to compose a work for them in 2000. Three Olympians was the outcome of this commission. The original recording was done at the Abbey Road Studios, with the London Symphony Orchestra (2001). The work was recorded again Read more…
John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine Context John Adams composed his orchestral work Short Ride in a Fast Machine in 1986. Subtitled a “fanfare for orchestra”, the piece came from a commission from the Great Woods festival. Due to the name of the festival, the original title of Read more…
Christopher Tin: Sogno di Volare Context Award-winning American composer Christopher Tin is perhaps best-known for his film and video game music. His output shows that he is a talented orchestral and choral composer, with his influences spanning both Eastern and Western musics. Tin has won two Grammy Awards for his Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.1 Context Ludwig van Beethoven grew up hearing and learning about the symphonies of his predecessors such as Mozart and Haydn. When he was a boy, Mozart was penning his famous Salzburg symphonies, and when he was a teenager, Mozart was writing his perennial late symphonies. Read more…
Krzysztof Penderecki: Intermezzo Context Composed in 1973, Krzysztof Penderecki’s Intermezzo is composed for 24 strings. The work bears resemblance to his First Symphony in terms of style. Penderecki builds various stages of narrative throughout Intermezzo which sees each individual part shine through. The Music The timbres and textures that Read more…