Jean Sibelius: The Swan of Tuonela Context Jean Sibelius composed The Swan of Tuonela in 1895 as part of the Lemminkäinen Suite. The suite is based on the Finnish mythological epic, Kalevala. The Swan of Tuonela is the second in the quartet of tone poems, and is by far the Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphonie Nr. 5 Ein Schnappschuss Der historische Kontext Die 5. Symphonie von Ludwig van Beethoven, die zwischen 1804 und 1808 komponiert wurde, ist nicht nur ein von seinen berühmtesten Musikwerken, sondern auch ein von den bekanntesten Musikwerken der westlichen klassischen Musik. Die 5. Symphonie wurde am 22. Read more…
Anatoly Liadov: The Enchanted Lake Context First performed in 1909 in St Petersburg, Anatoly Liadov’s serene orchestral work The Enchanted Lake is one of the composer’s most fondly-remembered works. Liadov himself really liked this work, commenting that: “How picturesque it is, how clear the multitude of stars hovering over Read more…
Johann Strauss I: Radetzky March Context Premiered in August 1848 in Vienna, Johann Strauss I’s Radetzky March is one of the most recognisable marches ever composed. Dedicated to Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz, the march soon became popular among regimented marching soldiers. Strauss was commissioned to composed a work Read more…
Edward Elgar: Serenade for Strings Context Composed in March 1892 and premiered later on in the same year, Edward Elgar’s Serenade for Strings is a short work for string orchestra. The premiere saw Elgar conducting the Worcester Ladies’ Orchestral Class in a private concert. The first public premiere took place Read more…
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee Context Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov is known for a range of his orchestral works, however perhaps one of the most iconic is his orchestral interlude Flight of the Bumblebee. As the title suggests, the work intends to evoke the chaotic and ever-changing flying pattern of a Read more…
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Overture in C Context Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel is, for many, one of the most celebrated female composers today. Her incredible catalogue of chamber music in particular has pleased many musicians and audiences alike over the last few decades. However, this has not always been the case. Hensel was often Read more…
Hamish MacCunn: The Land of the Mountain and the Flood Context Scottish Romantic composer Hamish MacCunn (1868-1916) was always intrigued with Scottish landscapes. Although he lived in London for a long time, MacCunn was a lifelong champion of Scottish folk songs, music and the incredible landscapes. He composed The Land Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No.5 A Snapshot Context Composed between 1804-1808, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is not only one of his most famous works, but it’s also one of the most well-known works in the Western Classical Music canon. The Fifth Symphony premiered on 22nd December 1808 in an Read more…
John Williams: Theme to Jaws Context John Williams composed the soundtrack for teven Spielberg thriller Jaws in 1975. It originally came out as an LP in 1975 and was then re-released on CD in 1992. Various future versions have since been released, including the 25th anniversary DVD, which included the Read more…