September is National Classical Music month, and we couldn’t be more excited! We know that a lot of kids might think classical music is boring or old, but we happen to think it’s pretty cool. Besides appreciating the technique and artistry of classical music, there are also countless benefits to listening and learning this style….
Composers
Four Brilliant Minds Born in March
This month we celebrate the birthdays of quite a few influential composer’s: Frédéric Chopin (March 1, 1810) Johann Sebastian Bach (March 31, 1685) Franz Joseph Haydn (March 31, 1732) Stephen Sondheim (March 22, 1930) Starting with the Baroque master himself, J.S. Bach is routinely considered one of the, if not the number one most influential…
Handel & Mendelssohn
This month we celebrate one Baroque era great and one Romantic era prodigy. George Frideric Handel (2/23/1685 – 4/14/1759) and Felix Mendelssohn (2/3/1809 – 11/4/1847) were respectively two prolific composers of their time. They each saw fame both during and after their lives – a feat not always achieved by even the most famous of…
“Melody is the Essence of Music.” – Mozart
This month we celebrate the birthday of one of the most famous composers of all time, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. January 27, 1756). Known as a child prodigy, Mozart was composing large works by the age of six until his untimely death at age 35. His influence is felt even today, especially in the world…
Beethoven, Puccini and Webern Walk Into A Bar…
This December marks the birthdays of two legends of the Romantic era and one from our current era. Ludwig van Beethoven (12/17/1770 – 3/26/1827), Giacomo Puccini (12/22/1858 – 11/29/1924), and Anton Webern (12/3/1883 – 9/15/1945), each had their special talents that contributed and influenced the world of music to this date. Beethoven was a German…
In Celebration of Liszt & Verdi
In October we celebrate two giants of the Romantic era. Piano virtuoso, Franz Liszt (October 22, 1811 – July 31, 1886), and opera hit-machine Giuseppe Verdi (October 9, 1813 – January 27, 1901) were both famously known in their time and are still well known today. From blisteringly fast piano solos, to vocal lines demanding…
Famous Composers Born in September
September marks the birthday of three significant composers in musical history. Below I’ll highlight some of their major accomplishments. This summary will only scratch the surface of these brilliant minds, so, if you like what you read and/or hear, do some research of your own and dive deeper into the lives of these significant composers!…
Fun Facts about Claude Debussy
This August 22nd will mark the birthday of composer Claude Debussy (August 22, 1862 – March 25, 1918). His abilities to combine unconventional scales and harmonies brought him to the forefront of music, influencing not just the classical realm, but the jazz world as well. He is best known for championing impressionism, a term which…
Quartetto Tomassini: A Night of Tango
This February I had the pleasure of viewing a streamed performance of Quartetto Tomassini. As the name implies, it is a string quartet led by violinist, Patrisa Tomassini. Performed on a snowy night at Sholes Street Studio, Brooklyn, the performers embarked on a journey as seen through tango-colored glasses. The space was small, but cozy;…
Mozart Demystified
Since Mozart’s death, his legacy has been dramatized and romanticized in both literature and film. One specific film Amadeus, warps Mozart’s character into a boyish, immature person. While I still suggest you see the film because it is still wonderful, just remember that they take very wide artistic liberties. Here are a couple of myths…