Camille Saint-Saëns: Bassoon Sonata in G Context Saint-Saëns’ Bassoon Sonata in G was composed in 1921, and was one of the composer’s last works before his death later that year. Throughout his career, Saint-Saëns only composed three sonatas for solo wind instruments, the others being for oboe and clarinet. Although Read more…
Dora Pejačević: Two Piano Sketches Context Dora Pejačević was born in Budapest on 10th September 1885, and her family descended from the old Croatian noble Pejačević family. Her mother, Countess Lilla Vay de Vaya was a very competent pianist and she gave Pejačević her first piano lessons when she was a young girl. Read more…
Alphonse Hasselmans: La Source Context Translated into ‘The Well Spring’, Alphonse Hasselmans’ (1845-1912) La Source is one of the many works he composed for pedal harp. After studying harp performance composition in Strasbourg, Hasselmans went on to be a Professor of Harp at the Paris Conservatoire. Hasselmans played a major Read more…
Claude Debussy: Arabesque No.2 Context Composed between 1888-1891, Claude Debussy’s set of two arabesques were some of the composer’s earlier works. The first in particular has remained a popular piece amongst audiences and performers alike. Although composed when Debussy was in his mid-twenties, the arabesques are a mere hint of Read more…
Claude Debussy: Arabesque No.1 Context Composed between 1888-1891, Claude Debussy’s set of two arabesques were some of the composer’s earlier works. The first in particular has remained a popular piece amongst audiences and performers alike. Although composed when Debussy was in his mid-twenties, the arabesques are a mere hint of Read more…
Claude Debussy: Suite bergamasque Context Composed between the years 1890 and 1905, Suite bergamasque has remained one of Claude Debussy’s most popular works for the piano. The suite was heavily revised before its publication in 1905, and many of the names were changed. Debussy used names that came from Paul Read more…
Paul Moravec: Autumn Song Context Paul Moravec (1957-) is an award-winning American composer who is based in New York. After studying composition at Harvard University and then subsequently taking up an MA and a Doctorate at Columbia University, Moravec became a professional composer and pedagogue. Moravec is currently a Professor Read more…
Claude Debussy: Rêverie Context Composed in 1890, Rêverie is a peaceful solo work for piano by Claude Debussy. The title refers to a dream-like state, which Debussy addresses head on with this work. Although still very popular today, the work was one of Debussy’s earlier works, meaning that it wasn’t Read more…
César Franck: Violin Sonata in A Context César Franck’s Violin Sonata in A was composed in 1886, and was offered as a wedding present for the violinist Eugène Ysaÿe. The sonata has become one of the most performed violin works in the repertoire,with it still receiving regular performances. After the Read more…
Elena Kats-Chernin: Roses in a Box 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 exchange Read more…