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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: Johann Sebastian Bach, Pt. II
What do Weird Al and Johann Sebastian have in common? This week, parody is the best way to look Bach to the future!
Meet the Mozarts of Spain, Sweden, and More
Explore the lives of composers dubbed as the "Mozarts" of their countries, including Joseph Martin Kraus of Sweden, Juan Arriaga of Spain, and two English contenders.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Johann Sebastian Bach, Pt. I
When there's a family fugue, keep your temperament in check... and don’t forget to bring a good counterpoint. This week, we’re taking things Bach!
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: Franz Schubert
Vienna, the musical capital of the world: it's where classical music was born... and Franz Schubert! While Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven weren’t Viennese natives, Schubert grew up where it all began. This morning, find out why Schubert is the Lieder and why Beyoncé might just be a fan.
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.