Malcolm Arnold: Fantasy for Trumpet Context Malcolm Arnold was born in Northampton, England in October 1921. He took up playing the trumpet at age 12, and after studying and practising intensely for five years, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music. Whilst at RCM, Read more…
Olivier Messiaen: Le merle noir Context Olivier Messiaen wrote a collection of significant works in the 20th century. His music often explored the uses of rhythm and harmony to create new and innovative ways to compose music. He also involved himself in the newer practices of total serialism and modes Read more…
Edward Elgar: Salut d’Amour Context Composed in 1888 as an engagement present to his then fiancé Caroline Alice Roberts, Salut d’Amour is composed for solo violin and piano. Elgar subtitled the work Liebesgruss (‘Loves Greeting’). The dedication in french read as Carice, and was a combination of his wife’s name, Read more…
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata) Context Composed in 1801, Beethoven’s fourteenth piano sonata is perhaps his most famous. Now known as the Moonlight Sonata, this solo work for piano is regularly performed around the world in recitals, exams, and in homes. The work was dedicated to the Austrian Read more…
Max Reger: Cello Sonata No.1 Context German composer Max Reger composed his First Cello Sonata in 1892 whilst in Wiesbaden. The piece was dedicated to cellist Oskar Brückner who also premiered the work a year later in 1893 in Wiesbaden, with the composer at the piano. The sonata has been Read more…
Vítĕzslava Kaprálová: Elegy Context Vítĕzslava Kaprálová (1915-1940) was born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, to musical parents. By age 9, Kaprálová was composing her own music after learning with her parents at home. In 1930, Kaprálová was offered a place to study at Brno Conservatory, where she studied composition, choral and orchestral Read more…
Ludovico Einaudi: Nuvole Bianche Context Ludovico Maria Enrico Einaudi was born in Turin, Italy in 1955. Einaudi began to compose his own music when he reached his teen years, with his main musical tool being a guitar. He decided to study formally and gained a place at the prestigious Conservatorio Read more…
Jules Massenet: Meditation Context Used as an instrumental en’tract between scenes in Act II of Jules Massenet’s opera Thaïs, Meditation has since become a popular concert piece for violinists around the world. The piece reflects Thaïs, a beautiful courtesan, reflecting on big decisions that are coming their way. The orchestra Read more…
Ann Southam: Noisy River Context After years of writing electronic music, Canadian composer Ann Southam abandoned the tapes and tracks and focused on more classically-inclined pieces. Noisy River is a piece for solo piano that features on the album Pond Life. Much like her style throughout the years, Southam’s approach Read more…
Georgiy Conus: Rêverie Context Georgiy Conus (1862-1933) was primarily known as a music theorist, who also composed a number of works, many for the piano. Part of his Trois Compositions, Rêverie (Op.7) was composed sometime between 1895-1900. The Music Part of the building works of what we know as Read more…