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The Mystery Behind Scriabin’s Mystic Chord
Explore the life of Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, his obsession with the occult, and his creation of the "mystic chord" used in his compositions.
Saturday Morning Car Tunes: The Celesta
Today, the celestially-inspired keyboard instrument called the Celesta
The Musical Quest for Perpetual Motion
Explore the concept of Perpetual Motion in music, as seen in works by composers like Niccolò Paganini and Johann Strauss II, defying the laws of thermodynamics.
A Brief History of Composers Sneaking Their Names into Their Music
Explore the intriguing world of musical cryptograms, where composers like Bach and Shostakovich cleverly embed their names into their compositions using note sequences.
What’s the Relationship Among the Movements in a Symphony?
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses the harmonic and melodic relationships among the movements of a symphony, using Beethoven's Fifth Symphony as an example.
Chapman Challenge: How Does a Composer Pick the Key for a Piece?
In this Chapman Challenge, Alan discusses how composers choose keys for their pieces, considering factors like instrument range, personal preference, and connections to previous works.
Chapman Challenge: Do Composers Write for Each Instrument?
Explore the process of symphony composition in this Chapman Challenge. Learn how composers craft each note for every instrument, and the role of orchestrators in Broadway and film music.
The Symphony
A symphony is like an enormous musical mural that wraps all the way around you. Each instrument plays its own colors and patterns until they all create something magnificent together.
colors
What if I told you that music and colors are more connected than you think? Let’s listen to some colorful pictures!
The Violin
Whether a particular violin is worth a fortune or not, its true value isn't in its price tag—it's in the way the violin whispers, soars, and tell stories that stir our souls.
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.
The World’s Top 5 Classical Music Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List
Explore the rich musical history of Vienna, Salzburg, Milan, Leipzig, and London. Discover iconic venues, museums, and homes of legendary composers in these classical music cities.
Fanny Mendelssohn Finally Gets Her Due
Fanny Mendelssohn's lost masterpiece, misattributed to her brother for 150 years, is finally recognized as hers, shedding light on her overlooked musical talent.
At the Movies: Alexandre Desplat's Frankenstein Score
Composer Alexandre Desplat, speaks with Brian Lauritzen about his Oscar nominated work on 'Frankenstein'.
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.
A Deep Dive into Beethoven's Beloved Symphony No. 9
Brian Lauritzen dives deep into Beethoven's timeless 9th Symphony
