Stringy sweet altcountry act Pistol Sister will pull into Offbeat Roadhouse on Friday night, September 20, from 8-9 for a concert which will also be broadcast on WTJU. Sure you could listen on the radio (91.1 FM) or on-line, and even video stream it, but concerts always sound better with you as part of the studio audience. Offbeat Roadhouse takes place […]

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; […]

Toccata Classics has already released the first volume of Steve Elcock’s orchestral works. This collection of chamber music provides another facet to this composer’s intriguing music. As a composer, Elcock’s a recent discovery. For years he worked his day job, composing in his leisure time and filing his pieces away. Unaffected by the demands of […]

When it comes to piano concertos, Franz Reizenstein is best remembered for his “Concerto Populaire,” his contribution to the Hoffnung Festivals. The 1961 Piano Concerto No. 2 is more serious, but in both, I hear a desire to connect with the audience. Reizenstein premiered the work at the keyboard. There’s plenty for the pianist to […]

Lute-playing was all the rage in the 1600s. The Italian, French, and English schools are well-represented with recordings. But other European courts were active musical centers. This release features lute music from Poland. It’s an interesting blend of both cosmopolitan styles and native folk traditions. Joachim Held performs with precision and delicacy. His interpretations are […]

Who was Josef Elsner? Outside of Poland, he’s known (if at all) as Frederick Chopin’s teacher. In Poland, he’s best known as a composer of sacred music — his masses, oratorios, and cantatas are still frequently performed. Elsner, like Antonin Dvorak, fused native folk traditions with classical forms, creating a national classical music style. Profil’s […]