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 […]
Benjamin Britten
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalTimeMachine Week 4
For the month of October, the Classics a Day team turned nostalgic. Classical musicians have been making recordings since the 1890s. So we all have over 130 years of documented performance practices. And we can judge first-hand the artistry of legendary performers. The challenge is to post classical recordings made before 1949 (pre-LP era). Here […]
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Charlottesville Symphony warms to British Riches
The Charlottesville Symphony directed by Benjamin Rous performed “British Riches” February 15-16, 2020. The program included a variety of 20th Century UK composers. The relative rarity of the works (at least on this side of the Atlantic) made this a refreshing and engaging concert. George Butterworth’s “A Shropshire Lad” opened the program. This symphonic rhapsody […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalFilmScore Week 2
For February 2020, the #ClassicsaDay team chose film music as its theme. What exactly is the intersection of classical and film music? Share your answers with a post on Twitter or Facebook, with a link to musical examples. Some film composers began in the classical world. And some film composers have transitioned to classical music. For […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalSchool Weeks 4 and 5
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; […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalSchool Week 3
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; […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalSummer Week 3
It was a busy summer for the Classics a Day team. In June, we marked African-American Music Appreciation Month. In July we celebrated national holidays in the U.S. and Canada. So that just left August to have a summer theme. For my part, I chose to choose anything except Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” In the process, […]
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#ClassicsaDay #ArmisticeClassics Week 4
November 19, 2018, is the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended the First World War. The #ClassicaDay team asked participants to post classical works related to the conflict. For my part, I tried to find examples from both sides of the war, and from as many different countries as possible. Here are my posts […]
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Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
The great Italian conductor Riccardo Muti has been music director of the legendary Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2010. During a long and distinguished career he has conducted, and in some cases led, most of the world’s great orchestras and opera companies. Under Muti’s leadership, the CSO has, if anything, enhanced its reputation as one […]