Blogs
John Foulds ‘April-England’: Spring Season
John Foulds: April-England Context John Herbert Foulds (1880-1939) was an English composer who, for the most part, has largely been forgotten in history. His pastoral Read more…
Blogs
Kenneth Downie ‘St Magnus’: Theme and Variations
Kenneth Downie: St Magnus Context Last used as the championship test piece for the 2014 Regional Area Contest, Kenneth Downie’s St Magnus is a terrific Read more…
Blogs
Carl Nielsen ‘Prologue from Aladdin’: An Ominous Opening
Carl Nielsen: Prologue from Aladdin Context Carl Nielsen composed the incidental music for Adam Oehlenschläger’s new production of Aladdin in 1918. The play premiered at Read more…
Blogs
Henryk Górecki ‘Harpsichord Concerto’: A Striking Trinket
Henryk Górecki: Harpsichord Concerto Context Henryk Górecki’s Harpsichord Concerto was composed at the request of Andrzej Chłopecki, head of Polish Radio Music Station. The commission Read more…
Blogs
John Adams ‘China Gates’: Shadowing Effects
John Adams: China Gates Context John Adams composed China Gates in 1977 for the then 17-year old pianist Sarah Cahill. A year later Adams wrote Read more…
Blogs
Aaron Zigman ‘Main Title from The Notebook’: Making Memories
Aaron Zigman: Main Title from The Notebook Context Aaron Zigman composed the soundtrack for the 2004 romantic drama The Notebook. The film was directed by Read more…
Blogs
Elena Kats-Chernin ‘Dance of the Paper Umbrellas’: The Magic Island
Elena Kats-Chernin: Dance of the Paper Umbrellas Context Born in 1957, Elena Kats-Chernin is one of Australia’s leading composers. She was born in Uzbekistan and Read more…
Blogs
Philip Wilby ‘Masquerade’: An Homage to Verdi
Philip Wilby: Masquerade Context Philip Wilby’s Masquerade was premiered in September 1993 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester during the brass band British Open Read more…
Blogs
Pierre Rode ‘Violin Concerto No.11’: Good-Humoured Zest
Pierre Rode: Violin Concerto No.11 Context Jacques Pierre Joseph Rode (1774-1830), also known as Pierre Rode, was a French violinist and composer. Rode was a Read more…
Blogs
John Adams ‘Harmonielehre’: Dreamy Scenes
John Adams: Harmonielehre Context John Adams’ epic symphonic work Harmonielehre was composed in 1985. The title derives from the German for ‘Study of Harmony’, which Read more…