Blogs
Maurice Ravel ‘La Valse’: The Demise of Society
Maurice Ravel: La Valse Context Maurice Ravel composed La Valse between 1919 and 1920, with the premiere taking place on 12th December 1920 in Paris. Read more…
Blogs
Astor Piazzolla ‘Libertango’: Tango Nuevo
Astor Piazzolla: Libertango Context Composed in 1974 whilst in Milan, Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango is one of his most recognisable works. A significant shift from the Read more…
Blogs
Ann Southam ‘Webster’s Spin’: Hypnotising Strings
Ann Southam: Webster’s Spin Context After years of writing electronic music, Canadian composer Ann Southam abandoned the tapes and tracks and focused on more classically-inclined Read more…
Blogs
Josef Suk ‘4 Pieces for Violin & Piano’: Many Faces
Josef Suk: 4 Pieces for Violin & Piano Context Composed in the spring of 1900, Josef Suk’s 4 Pieces for Violin and Piano (Op.17) was Read more…
Blogs
Felix Mendelssohn ‘Ruy Blas Overture’: A Change of Heart
Felix Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas Overture Context After reading (and hating) Victor Hugo’s Ruy Blas, Felix Mendelssohn was asked to write an overture based on the Read more…
Blogs
Selim Palmgren ‘Snöflingor’: Peaceful Snow
Selim Palmgren: Snöflingor Context Selim Palmgren (1878-1951) was a Finnish composer and conductor. He studied at the Music Conservatory in Helsinki, where he then pursued Read more…
Blogs
Joan Tower ‘Violin Concerto’: Up, Down, Left, Right
Joan Tower: Violin Concerto Context Joan Tower was born in New Rochelle, New York in 1938. When Tower was nine, her family moved to Bolivia, Read more…
Blogs
Peter Meechan ‘The Legend of King Arthur’: The Highlights
Peter Meechan: The Legend of King Arthur Context Commissioned by brass band Bürgermusik Luzern in 2010, Peter Meechan’s The Legend of King Arthur is one Read more…
Blogs
Maurice Ravel ‘String Quartet’: French Connection
Maurice Ravel: String Quartet Context Composed when he was 28 years old, Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet was completed in April 1903. The work was premiered Read more…
Blogs
Albéric Magnard ‘Hymne à Vénus’: Love in all Forms
Albéric Magnard: Hymne à Vénus Context Although now relatively unknown in modern programming, Albéric Magnard’s collection of works reflects the impressionistic and highly romantic stylings Read more…