Impressionism In Music
Impressionism is a term most familiar to fans of late 19th century painters such as Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, and Degas among other notable names. In fact, the term derives…
A Look At Female Classical Music Composers
Depending on the instrument you play or your passion for classical music, you may have heard the works of one or a few female composers. Pianists, for example, may know…
Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings
Duke Ellington. The name immediately brings to mind jazz. Born Edward Kennedy Ellington, his legacy as an accomplished pianist and bandleader lives on today. But do you know he was…
Get To Know “The Black Mozart” – Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Name: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. His family name is often misspelled as "Boulogne". He is sometimes referred to as "The Black Mozart" and while that nickname was presumably intended…
Joplin’s Treemonisha – Rediscovered For A New Generation
You may have heard of Scott Joplin and you may associate him with ragtime pieces such as "The Entertainer" and "Maple Leaf Rag", but did you know that he…
William Grant Still: A Man Of Many Firsts
When it comes to classical music, William Grant Still isn't exactly a household name and that's quite unfortunate because his music is truly captivating. I vividly remember the first time…
Helsinki, Finland - courtesy of Fodors
Finlandia: The Secret Protest Piece
Helsinki, Finland - courtesy of Fodors Finlandia, one of Sibelius' most famous compositions, is often referred to as a tone poem. A tone poem is a piece of orchestral music…
10 Facts About Dvorak That You May Not Know
You may know Antonín Dvořák as the composer of the much-loved and often-played Symphony No.9 'From the New World' (aka the New World Symphony), but there is more to…
What Is A Symphony?
Even if you're not a classical music fan, you've probably heard a symphony or two. You may not know the names or composers, but symphonies have been featured in everything…
What’s In A Name? Understanding Classical Music Titles
Everyone from seasoned performers to those just discovering classical music has had questions about how works get their titles. Did composers like Beethoven nickname their own symphonies? What is an…