Don’t speak, I know what you’re saying

September 8, 2016 at 11:10 am

Deeply moving music sometimes tells a harrowing narrative, has a long backstory, speaks from the depths of depression, or is woven with deep philosophical thought. But sometimes the best stuff requires no explanation – like the haunting Valse Triste. Thank you, Jean Sibelius. Why speak words when you can communicate like this?

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A different type of school

September 7, 2016 at 10:30 am

Yesterday, parents over the world celebrated the start of the school year (while teachers mourned). How about another school-themed overture?

The School for Scandal is an 18th century English play, which foreshadows BBC costume comedies and all their predictable characters. There isn’t exactly a school in the play; however, Samuel Barber wrote an overture for it while he was still a student – he was a mere 21 years old. Not bad for a college project! It has since remained one of his most-popular and most-performed works.

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Back to School

September 6, 2016 at 11:00 am

Labor Day has come and gone. This is a time of great celebration to those of us with school-aged kids … because we can finally be rid of them again. School’s in!

Johannes Brahms was awarded an honorary doctorate degree when he was 47; as a “thank-you”, he composed the Academic Festival Overture. By using a number of popular college songs, Brahms captures all the important elements of university learning – beer, wine, and hazing rituals.

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