If you haven't already heard Haydn's 'Creation', listen to it now! The prelude is a "representation of chaos". However, Haydn's "representation of chaos" is more technically subtle than chaotic. It begins in C minor (or does it?!) and almost immediately drifts unpredictably to outrageously remote keys. I would argue that this moment marks the beginning of the breakdown of tonality, not Wagner's Tristan. The formal process of moving to the dominant has been thrown ...
The amount of inspiration Shakespeare has given composers is astonishing. Even though Shakespeare was British, it is a testament to his genius that he was recognized as an inspirational figure abroad. The most notable works inspired by Shakespeare (for me) are Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture, Prokofiev's Rome and Juliet, Verdi's Othello. If anyone can direct my attention to any more I'd appreciate that. So why ...
A blog, huh? Never thought I’d have one. Indeed, with very few ideas to offer, no literary talents, and English that sucks vowels, why should I? But then it dawned on me: to share my little ** poetry, of course! (In English, nonetheless.) It’s half-baked. The Crooked Church We stand as timeless as the rule: It takes a crook to scam a fool. ...Behold the craftsmen so skilled, It is the Church they are to build! Invite them ...
This blog relates to the Cambridge debate which I have just watched and which is still fresh in my mind. Below is a link where you can watch the debate if you have two hours to kill. http://www.cus.org/connect The debate focused on the motion which was: 'This House believes that classical music is irrelevant to today's youth'. The arguments for the motion were many. DJ 'Kissy Sell Out' pointed out that even if a classical piece of music is famous, most ...
Composers of the 'New Complexity' movement have produced the most esoteric music I've ever heard. They are esoteric to listeners because there is simply too much information to completely grasp the parameters at play. They are also esoteric to performers as they are extremely difficult compositions to play. Just considering ...
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