Francis Poulenc: Mélancolie Context Composed in war-torn France in 1940, Francis Poulenc’s Mélancolie for solo piano certainly added a glimmer of light into the composer’s archives. One of Poulenc’s longest works for the piano, Mélancolie features a range of different moods and techniques that Poulenc had used in previous works. Read more…
Lili Boulanger: Nocturne Context Born on 21st August 1893 in Paris, Lili Boulanger was considered at a young age as a musical child prodigy. This was perhaps not too surprising for the Boulanger family, with her mother and grandmother being singers, her elder sister Nadia being a composer and educator, Read more…
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: The Seasons January: At the Fireside Context Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky composed his twelve character pieces for piano, The Seasons, at the same time that he was writing his popular ballet, Swan Lake. Each piece in The Seasons depicts a different month of the year in Russia. Although Read more…
Scott Joplin: The Entertainer Context Scott Joplin is remembered for being one of the most memorable ragtime composers of the turn-of-the-century during his lifetime (1868-1917). After Joplin’s death in 1917, ragtime music came out of the ‘mainstream’ line and started to form into the likes of jazz, big band swing 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…
Nadia Boulanger: 3 Pieces for Cello & Piano Context Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) is fondly remembered as being a leading French composer, conductor and pedagogue of the 20th century. Her pupil list over her teaching years include the likes of Daniel Barenboim, Aaron Copland, Philip Glass, Quincy Jones and Astor Piazzolla. Read more…
Scott Joplin: Weeping Willow Context Scott Joplin is remembered for being one of the most memorable ragtime composers of the turn-of-the-century during his lifetime (1868-1917). After Joplin’s death in 1917, ragtime music came out of the ‘mainstream’ line and started to form into the likes of jazz, big band swing Read more…
Scott Joplin: Maple Leaf Rag Context Scott Joplin is remembered for being one of the most memorable ragtime composers of the turn-of-the-century during his lifetime (1868-1917). After Joplin’s death in 1917, ragtime music came out of the ‘mainstream’ line and started to form into the likes of jazz, big band Read more…
Ethel Smyth: Cello Sonata Context Dame Ethel Smyth is one of the most important British composers that bridged the gap between the 19th and 20th centuries. She composed a number of orchestral works, chamber music, songs and six operas. Also a talented writer, Smyth also penned 9 books (in 10 Read more…
Ferdinand Küchler: Concertino in the Style of Antonio Vivaldi Context Ferdinand Küchler (1867-1937) was one of the leading violin pedagogues of his time. Küchler wrote many books and works specifically aimed at young violinists learning their way around the instrument. Many of his works are still used today by teachers Read more…