Michael Nyman: The Heart Asks Pleasure First Context Michael Nyman’s solo piano piece The Heart Asks Pleasure First was composed as part of the 1993 film The Piano. On the album soundtrack Nyman plays all the piano parts himself, with this album being his twentieth album release. The soundtrack was Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No.17 Context Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.17 was composed between 1801-02. Often referred to as ‘The Tempest’, the nickname is said to have originated from a personal conversation between Beethoven and Anton Schindler. The Music Movement I – Largo-Allegro The opening bar and Read more…
Patrick Hawes: How Hill Context Patrick Hawes’ 2009 collaborative album Fair Albion is subtitled ‘Visions of England’, with each work representing some of the varied countrysides and landscapes found in the UK. Hawes collaborated with cellist Julian Lloyd Webber, soprano Elin Manahan Thomas and harpist Claire Jones on Fair Albion. Read more…
Frédéric Chopin: Raindrop Prelude Context Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude Op.28, No.15, also known as the Raindrop Prelude is part of the composer’s 24 preludes. This particular prelude is the longest in the set, lasting between 5-7 minutes. A large proportion of the Op.28 collection was composed during Chopin and George Sand’s Read more…
James MacMillan: Kiss on Wood Context Composed in August 1994, James MacMillan’s Kiss on Wood is a short work originally written for violin and piano, however in recent years the cello and piano version has become more widely known. Kiss on Wood was premiered at the Harrogate Festival in 1994 Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione Der historische Kontext Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione wurde 1964 von Ruth Schönthal komponiert. Schönthal komponierte zwei weiteren einsätzigen Sonaten, die Sonate Breve (1972) und Sonatensatz (1973) heißen. Die Erstaufführung fand bei dem 26. jährlichen “Delta Omicron WNYC” Festspiel der amerikanischen Musik in der New York Stadtbücherei Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata Concertante Context Originally written to be played on either a cello, viola or clarinet, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata Concertante was composed in 1973. Now fondly remembered as a work for clarinet and piano, that is the version this blog will discuss. There aren’t many records regarding this work, Read more…
John Ireland: Decorations Context John Ireland was born in Bowdon, Cheshire in 1879, and was the youngest of five children. It has been widely documented that Ireland had a rough childhood. His mother and father died within a year of each other in 1893 and 1894, when he was just 14/15 Read more…
Maree Docia: At Last, Sunrise Context Hidden in the deep depths of Spotify you can find this simple track by Maree Docia. At Last, Sunrise, along with its adorable artwork, is a short work for piano and string ensemble. What is truly intriguing is that there is absolutely no information Read more…
Ruth Schönthal: Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione Context Composed in 1964, Ruth Schönthal’s Sonata, quasi un’improvvisazione is one of three one-movement sonatas that she composed. The other two are Sonata Breve (1972) and Sonatensatz (1973). The premiere of this sonata happened at the Delta Omicron 26th Annual WNYC Festival of American Music Read more…