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Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Tuba
The Tuba on Saturday Morning Car Tunes!
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Trombone
Chapman Challenge: The History of Handbells
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan explains the history of handbells, their transition from bell tower practice tools to melody instruments, and how melodies are divided among ringers in a handbell choir.
Why Don’t Trombones Have Valves Like Trumpets?
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan Chapman explains why trombones use slides instead of valves like trumpets, tracing back to their 15th-century ancestor, the sackbut.
Don’t Underestimate the Tuba
Explore the depth and range of the tuba beyond its stereotype as an "oom-pah machine". This article highlights five orchestral pieces that showcase the tuba's versatility.
The French Horn
The French Horn is the gentle giant of the orchestra… a musical shapeshifter morphing into so many different characters and moods.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Ludwig van Beethoven, Pt. III
In his later years, Beethoven had a lot of problems, including complete deafness and stressful family issues, which only deepened the emotion in his music. This week, we’ll explore his third and final period, filled with great sorrow and great joy.
Virtuosity and Nostalgia: Teresa Carreño and Chopin
Explore the life and music of Teresa Carreño, a South American composer and pianist, and her significant influence from Frédéric Chopin.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Ludwig van Beethoven, Pt. II
Dun dun dun DUNN! This week, Beethoven's middle period takes center stage, where he truly starts sounding like, well, Beethoven. Heroes, symphonies, and most of the orchestral music are spotlighted.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Ludwig van Beethoven, Pt. I
Before Beethoven became a wild-haired, world-changing composer, he was a rebellious piano prodigy shaking up Vienna. He wasn’t just the next Mozart—he was out to prove he was something new. From his pianos sonatas to his very first symphony, hear how Beethoven’s journey kicked off!
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pt. III
Power, emotion, and tunes you can hum for days—Mozart’s operas have it all. Tune in this week to hear about Mozart's true love: the opera.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Pt. II
88 keys, two hands, and a whole lot of imagination. Mozart didn’t just write piano concertos—he redefined them. With his twelve great Viennese concertos (K. 449-503), Mozart made the genre more difficult, more diverse, and deepened the relationship between soloist and orchestra.
