The Divine Bach: How the master’s music defined the foundations of functional tonality
Johann Sebastian Bach was just one of scores of Baroque era composers, but there’s something about the artistry and craft of his music that has stood the test of time above all of his contemporaries.
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Musical Inspiration: The Art of Filling Silence with Sound
How does a composer compose? How does the creative process work?
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Shostakovich, Stalin and Lady Macbeth
It was on 26 January, 1936 that Stalin paid a rare visit to the opera: Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District was the work performed.
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Modulation: How Western Classical Music conquered the world
What’s so special about Western Classical Music, anyway? One word: modulation.
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Musical Nationalism: Rhythm, Dance and Folk Music
A journey through 19th Century nationalism and the musical ingredients that give music a sense of place.
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Unfinished Symphonies and the Attempts to Imitate Genius
An exploration into the mystique of unfinished works and the varying attempts – both past and present – to complete them.
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Good Vibrations: Musical Acoustics for Dummies!
How does a string actually vibrate? Why can a clarinet play so much lower than a flute?
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