Traditionally, September is the back-to-school month. The Classics a Day team decided to mark the occasion. Classical School is the theme for September 2019. To participate, just post a piece of classical music that’s somehow related to education with the appropriate hashtags.
What would count? Any classical work about school, or using themes from schools; examination pieces; composer tributes to their teachers (or students); etudes or other instructional works, just to name a few.
Below are my selections for the third week of #ClassicalSchool
9/16/19 Benjamin Britten – Young People’s Guide to the Orchestra
This popular work was commissioned by for a 1945 educational film “Instruments of the Orchestra.” The film features the London Symphony Orchestra directed by Malcolm Sargent.
9/17/19 George Frideric Handel – Lecons for piano
These lessons come from a four-volume publication, Kompositionen für Klavier. The first two volumes have suites, the fourth fughettas. Volume three has Leçons, Fugues, and misc. pieces.
9/18/19 Ignaz Moscheles – Studien Op. 70
Moscheles was a piano virtuoso, composer, and pedagogue. His pupils include Felix Mendelssohn, Evard Grieg, and Arthur Sullivan.
9/19/19 Gustav Holst – St. Paul’s Suite
Holst wrote the suite for the St.Paul’s Girls’ School in London. He taught there from 1905-1934, and the work was originally intended for the school’s student orchestra.
9/20/19 Benjamin Britten – Variations on a theme by Frank Bridge, Op. 10
Britten had started and abandoned this tribute to his teacher many times. A commission by the Salzburg Festival did the trick. Britten finished the work, and its success launched his career.
