For the month of September, the Classics a Day team chose a controversial theme. There is a small subset of symphonic works within the classical repertoire that appear misnamed. Most composers choose their titles carefully. But when the title runs counter to expectations, disagreements arise. What does the title “symphony” mean? Can a composition be […]
Anton Webern
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#ClassicsaDay #Stokowski Week 4
For April, 2021, the Classics a Day Team celebrates a legend — Leopold Stokowski. He was born in April (1882), and became a cultural icon. His recording legacy spans over 60 years. And whether he was conducting a premier orchestra or a group of studio musicians, the sound was unmistakable. To share all of Stokowski’s […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalShorts Week 2
February is the shortest month of the year. That fact inspired #ClassicsaDay team (of which I’m a member) to make short classical pieces the theme for the month. The challenge is to select stand-alone works, not movements of larger pieces. Participants post links to short classical pieces in the social media channel of their choice, […]
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Music and Context: Webern in Mayberry
I always find it interesting when people tell me they don’t like “contemporary” music. And generally, they’re not talking about music composed within the last few years — they mean Arnold Schoenberg and his dodecaphonic disciples, Alban Berg and Anton Webern. You know, the composers that ruined classical music. Except, of course, that they really […]