It's all about the classical music composers and their works from the last 400 years and much more about music. Hier erfahren Sie alles über die klassischen Komponisten und ihre Meisterwerke der letzten vierhundert Jahre und vieles mehr über Klassische Musik.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Eric Clapton - Layla (Live)
10 British composers who shaped the nation’s classical music legacy
By Maddy Shaw Roberts & Rosie Pentreath
From Tallis to Weir – here are some of Britain’s most compelling musical voices from the past few hundred years.
As a new monarch is soon to be crowned, on Classic FM we’re handpicking the finest classical music written by British composers.
From the 16th through to 21st century, here are some of the English, Scottish and Welsh composers who have shaped Britain’s incredible musical legacy.
Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
Unquestionably one of the finest English composers in history, Tallis is known for the sublime choral settings he wrote – including the hymn, ‘Thou wast, O God’, which inspired Vaughan Williams’ (see below) Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, and the stunning 40-part masterpiece, Spem in Alium – which translates as ‘I Have Hope in No Other’ and is written for eight choirs of five separate voices.
Tallis was a composer throughout the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I and, in spite of upheavals in the church created by these monarchs, remained a steadfast composer of sacred music, able to adapt his style and set texts in both English and Latin. Six
William Byrd (1543-1623)
Byrd wrote some of the most sublime music known to the human ear. A Renaissance master, his music defined the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who had a deep love for his music and so turned a blind eye to his devout Roman Catholicism.
From sacred and secular vocal works, to his keyboard and consort music, Byrd’s compositions often reflected the hardship and practising his faith at the time, through anguished harmonies and long, yearning phrases. a hi
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Purcell is considered England’s greatest composer of the Baroque era. Inspired by Italian and French Baroque styles, he shaped a uniquely English version and was dubbed the “Orpheus Britannicus” for his skill in combining powerful counterpoint with expressive, flexible and dramatic lyrical settings.
No other English composers managed to approach his stardom, until Elgar came along two centuries later. The heart-rending aria ‘When I am laid in earth’, from his opera Dido and Aeneas, continues to excite musicians and touch audiences today. am
Edward Elgar (1857–1934)
Elgar is perhaps the quintessential English composer, many of his works having entered the classical music canon.
Both his enduring Cello Concerto and Violin Concerto remain staples of their instruments’ core concert repertoire, recorded time and time again by the finest musicians out there. And his famous Enigma Variations, two symphonies, and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches all demonstrate his superlative orchestral and instrumental writing. e
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)
English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams was one of the most important figures in classical music in the 20th century. Taking inspiration from sources as diverse as Tudor polyphony and English folksong, Vaughan Williams wrote nine symphonies, six operas, a ballet and hymn tunes as well as scores for the stage and screen.
He helped revive British music, and his works like The Lark Ascending and Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis remain incredibly popular, often topping the Classic FM Hall of Fame, which is the world’s largest survey of classical music tastes.
Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912)
A contemporary of Vaughan Williams and Holst, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was an English composer and conductor famous for rich orchestral works and brilliant instrumental writing. Among his best-known works are the Violin Concerto in G minor, The Song of Hiawatha and his arrangement of African American spiritual ‘Deep River’, which was exquisitely reimagined by the Kanneh-Mason family trio (watch below).
In 2021, Coleridge-Taylor made his debut in the Classic FM Hall of Fame, marking a renewed interest in this long-neglected composer’s music. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
For English composer, conductor and pianist Britten, the human experience and psyche was an endless source of inspiration. His operas especially, including The Turn of the Screw and Peter Grimes, use powerful music to set stories of the isolated individual increasingly at odds with a hostile society.
And his crowning masterpiece, the War Requiem, is a poignant commemoration by a pacifist composer of the devastating loss of life caused by the Second World War. Dedicated to Britten and his partner Peter Pears’ personal friends who died during the war, the work powerfully sets nine war poems by the English poet Wilfred Owen throughout the traditional Latin Mass for the Dead. It was commissioned for, and premiered at, the 1962 opening of the new Coventry Cathedral.
Judith Weir (1954–)
Scottish composer Judith Weir made history in 2014 when she became the first ever female Master of the Queen’s Music, a role that is music’s equivalent to the Poet Laureate.
Weir is known for her pioneering operas and stage works – including The Vanishing Bridegroom and Blond Eckbert – which often take inspiration from medieval history and traditional Scottish music. She started out as an oboe player, performing with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and she studied composition with Song of Athene composer, John Tavener, during her schooldays.
Debbie Wiseman (1963–)
Debbie Wiseman OBE, Classic FM’s Composer in Residence, has enjoyed bountiful success in recent years with her album The Glorious Garden with gardening royalty Alan Titchmarsh, which celebrates the great outdoors, and her 2020 composition, Together, written for those at home or self-isolating during lockdown.
Her music for TV and film is also well loved, her score for the Stephen Fry-starring biopic of Oscar Wilde now as special to viewers as the film that inspired it. In 2021, the acclaimed composer and conductor became the most popular living British composer in the Classic FM Hall of Fame for the first time.
Debbie Wiseman: A Lustre to this Day
Paul Mealor (1975–)
The year 2011 was a golden time for Welsh composer Paul Mealor, whose motet Ubi Caritas et Amor was performed at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Just a few months later, he was commissioned to write the music for ‘Wherever You Are’, whose text was compiled from letters written to British Army soldiers in the Afghanistan War by their partners, for the TV series The Choir: Military Wives.
The song went to Christmas No. 1, and the following year he was voted the “nation’s favourite living composer” in the Classic FM Hall of Fame, charting at No. 5. On top of his unparalleled chart success, Mealor is a prolific classical composer and has written an opera, three symphonies, concertos and chamber music.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
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Monday, May 1, 2023
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Sunday, April 30, 2023
Iosif Ivanovici - Donauwellen Walzer (Waves of the Danube Waltz)
Friday, April 28, 2023
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Composer’s Pianos: Halévy and Bizet
By Maureen Buja
Alex Cobbe’s piano collection at Hatchlands Park has one massive square piano that was immensely practical to its two composer owners.
How do composers compose? We’re familiar with the images from movies, the composer with one hand on the keyboard and the other, pencil poised, over the music paper. In this picture of Cole Porter, we can see the advantage of being left-handed!
Nonetheless, composers with means and connections could have their needs accommodated. The French composer Fromental Halévy commissioned the French piano maker Roller to make him a piano that combined the keyboard with a desk. The top of his square piano has three leather-covered sections, as was common for desks at the time, placed at a height convenient for writing. Notice that the keyboard slides back into the instrument when not needed. Notice also the handles on the side of the case to help when moving the heavy instrument / piece of furniture around.
Halévy (1799- 1862) had a successful late career as an opera composer, but all of his works, including his most famous, La Juive, have fallen out of the repertoire.
Upon Halévy’s death in 1862, his daughter, Geneviève, brought the piano to her husband, the composer Georges Bizet. Bizet had been a student of Halévy’s at the Paris Conservatoire. The piano remained in the Halévy family’s possession until its current owner purchased it.
When Bizet received this piano, he was only 24 and all of his major works, including The Pearl Fishers (1863), La jolie fille de Perth (1866), and, most importantly, Carmen (1873-74) all lay ahead of him to be composed on this instrument.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
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Tuesday, April 25, 2023
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Monday, April 24, 2023
Paco Park Presents: Puso ng Kundiman, Serenades from a String Quartet and Sopranos
BY MANILA BULLETIN ENTERTAINMENT
AT A GLANCE
The concert, brought to you by the Department of Tourism, the National Parks Development Committee, and Sound Experience Manila, features Sopranos Sherine Koa and Isabela Madero; and String Quartet Monching Carpio, Adrik Cristobal, Patrick Roxas, and Iqui Vinculado.
Paco Park presents : Puso ng Kundiman
In celebration of National Heritage Month, music lovers are in for a musical treat with 'Paco Park Presents: Puso ng Kundiman,' a free concert open to everyone, happening on May 5, 6 p.m, in Paco Park.
The concert, brought to you by the Department of Tourism, the National Parks Development Committee, and Sound Experience Manila, features Sopranos Sherine Koa and Isabela Madero; and String Quartet Monching Carpio, Adrik Cristobal, Patrick Roxas, and Iqui Vinculado.
As a showcase and a celebration of our rich and vibrant Filipino culture, "Puso ng Kundiman" seeks to portray the best of Filipino Kundiman songs. Kundiman is a classic and undying form of Filipino expression and emotion, a genre that has survived our national hardships, and a bearer of our culture’s memories and identity. Artistically relevant and integrally inseparable from our history, Kundiman is characterized by its rhythmic patterns and its melodious serenading progression.
Audience members can expect an enchanting evening filled with music that is uniquely Filipino. The performers will bring to life the emotions and stories embedded in each song through their soulful and heartfelt performances. To offer their talents are two renowned sopranos, Sherine Koa and Isabela Madero. Ms. Koa has an extensive and broad history in music, particularly in Opera, receiving several awards both in local and international levels such as the Most Outstanding Senior Classical Voice Performer at the VAYA International Music Festival, Canada last 2021, among many others. Ms. Madero, not to be remiss, is acclaimed in her own right, receiving the first place in the Tokyo International Youth Music Competition, among, as well, many other awards and recognitions.
The guitar Quartet is composed of four accomplished classical guitarists, each with their unique style and impressive achievements. Comprised of Ramoncito Carpio, the overall director of the Manila Guitar Festival, Angelica Vinculado, the first female graduate in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music, Patrick Roxas, lecturer for Strings and Chamber Music at the UP College of Music, and Adrik Cristobal, a former active member of the Philippines Guitar Orchestra and first placer of the NAMCYA National Guitar Competition (2022), the group is poised to perform our revered Kundiman songs with the grace and elegance one can expect from such a dynamic and illustrious cast.
Don't miss 'Puso ng Kundiman' to be hosted by Ms. Lara Atienza at the historic Paco Park on May 5 starting at 6 p.m. See you there!
OPM icons predict young artists who will rule music
BY ROBERT REQUINTINA
AT A GLANCE
Produced by Echo Jham Entertainment Production in cooperation with Soroptimist, The Class of OPM is a one-of-a-kind concert featuring classic hits and the greatest music of these OPM greats that span generations of music playlists, which will be held at The Theater at Solaire on May 3.
THE CLASS OF OPM. From left: Buboy Garrovillo, and Jim Paredes, of the APO Hiking Society; Dulce, Marco Sison, and Rey Valera
The APO Hiking Society composed of Jim Paredes, Buboy Garrovillo (minus the late Danny Javier), Rey Valera, Marco Sison, and Dulce ruled the local music scene in the 70s and 80s with their hit songs, albums, and awards - but who among the young original Pilipino music (OPM) artists will continue to grow?
During a media conference for their upcoming show "The Class Act of OPM" held at Gerry's Grill Restaurant in Quezon City recently, OPM legends revealed some of the new artists who are ready to rise to their level and shared their thoughts about what it takes to be successful in the local music scene.
"Actually seryosohin ninyo yung career ninyo para tumagal kayo. Yung iba kasing artist nagpapa-pogi lang. Yung iba one-hit wonder artist. And then yung popularity nila pumupunta lang sa ulo nila at napunta sila sa ibang karera," said Buboy of APO.
(Actually, take your career seriously so you can last. Others are just like artists who are just showing off. Others are one-hit-wonder artists. And then their popularity just goes to their heads and they end up in other careers.)
Buboy added: "Pero pag talagang artist ka na gusto mong kumanta at gusto mong gumawa ng kanta, pag gusto mong magperform sa entablado, kapag serious ka roon, I think magtatagal ka. I think sa mga younger ones, makikita na ninyo kung sino yung mga artist na ganun. Yun ang mga tatagal."
(But if you're really an artist who wants to sing and make a song, if you want to perform on stage, if you're serious about it, I think you'll last a long time. I think among the younger ones, you'll see who the artists are like that. Those are the ones that last.)
Jim Paredes commented: "Yung may devotion at may dedication sa craft, I think that's very important. Tama si Buboy, social media can make you so flashy and attractive. But you know may life span yun eh. But you have to do something like reinvent yourself. I'm betting on Moira. Si Morrissette. Sino pa ba? I actually don't listen to new music."
(Those who have devotion and dedication to the craft, I think that's very important. Buboy is right, social media can make you so flashy and attractive. But you know it has a lifespan. But you have to do something like reinvent yourself. I 'm betting on Moira. Morrissette. Who else? I actually don't listen to new music.)
"I think Christian Bautista. At saka in your lifetime, hindi ka lang singer sa entablado. You join theater. Sasali ka rin sa mga play. Talagang palalawaking mo rin ang career mo," Buboy also said.
(I think Christian Bautista. Besides also, in your lifetime, you are not only a singer on stage. You should join the theater. You will also participate in plays. You must also expand your career.)
Jim cited the dangers of the preset crop of artists. "Ang pinaka-danger talaga ngayon sa mga new artist ay madali kang makilala at madali ka rin makalimutan. Kasi the competition is so stiff. In our time, slow but sure ang pagsikat ng mga artist. But the new kids, after their first hit, challenge na yun."
(The most dangerous thing with new artists today is that you are easily recognized and easily forgotten. Because the competition is so stiff. In our time, the rise of artists is slow but sure. But the new kids, after their first hit, that's a challenge.)
Rey Valera said: "Puwede kang sumikat...umikot ka lang ng isang beses ilagay mo sa TikTok. Pero pagkatapos nun, ano'ng gagawim mo uli? Ano ang kasunod? Unless i-develop mo ang sarili mo at gagawa ka ng iba. Gagawa ka ng kanta. Gagawa ka nag paraan to up the ante."
(You can become famous...just go around once and put it on TikTok. But after that, what will you do again? What's next? Unless you develop yourself and do something else. You write a song. You will make a way to up the ante.)
"Let's face it! Ang new artists ngayon hindi lang singer at songwriter. Content provider din sila. Ganun ang challenge nila ngayon. Yung content namin matagal na naming nagawa kaya hanggang ngayon ginagamit pa nila," added Jim.
(Let's face it! Today's new artists are not just singers and songwriters. They are also content providers. That's their challenge now. We've been making our content for a long time, so they're still using it.)
Marco encouraged young artists to be consistent about their work.
"Madali na mahirap ngayon. Madali because of social media. As an artist mahirap maging consistent. Sa Pilipinas uso ang love songs. But you can't go wrong with love songs. Yung mga bata sa ngayon, naririnig nila yung kanta mo, and when they grow old, na appreciate nila yung kanta mo. May kasama rin na swerte," said the "Make Believe" singer.
(It's both easy and hard these days. It's easy because of social media. As an artist, it's hard to be consistent. In the Philippines, love songs are the trend. But you can't go wrong with love songs. The kids nowadays, when they hear your song, and when they grow old, they appreciate your song. There is also luck involved.)
Asia's Timeless Diva Dulce, the only rose among the thorns in the upcoming show, said that she's honored to be part of the show.
"Ang saya talaga kasi fan nila ako. Ayoko talagang may masayang na moment na hindi mo sila pinakikinggan. Sikat yung mga songs nila and then marinig mo lang silang kumakanta ng life, sa akin iba ang value nun. Kaya excited sa show na ito," she said.
(It's really fun because I'm their fan. I don't want to miss a moment listening to them. Their songs are famous and then you just hear them perform live, to me that's a different value. So I'm excited about this show.)
Dulce added: "I don't have that many hit songs, but I got active in the movies and teleserye. Pero outside showbiz, I do outreach programs in the provinces. And these things naman don't come out in social media. Nagagalingan ako kay Bituin Escalante. Magaling at maganda ang boses. Nakikita ko sa kanya ang isang artist na walang compromise." (I like Bituin Escalante. She's good and she has a beautiful voice. I see her as an artist without compromise.)
Produced by Echo Jham Entertainment Production in cooperation with Soroptimist, The Class of OPM is a one-of-a-kind concert featuring classic hits and the greatest music of these OPM greats that span generations of music playlists, which will be held at The Theater at Solaire on May 3.
Adding excitement to this OPM star-studded evening are special guests Andrea Gutierrez, Elisha, and VR Caballero.
The Class of OPM is a fund-raising event of the Soroptimist International of the Americas Philippines Region for the poor.
Priced at P3,000 for SVIP; P2,000 (Patron), and P1,000 (Balcony). Tickets are available at Solare Box Office at http://www.ticketworld.com.ph or call 0932-404-9551 for ticket reservations.