Today we look at a French composer, who was also a pianist, organist and conductor. He wrote a number of pieces that would become very popular, as well as works of incredible quality. Camille Saint-SaĆ«ns, born on this day in 1835. Continue reading “On This Day… October 9”
Category: Archive
On This Day… October 8
I think this is the first chance that I’ve had to showcase an Australian as part of this series, and it just so happens that he was born, on this day, in Perth, my home town. A Noted composer of classical music in Australia, Carl Vine’s work has also been performed all over the world. Continue reading “On This Day… October 8”
On This Day… October 7
In doing this series, sometimes it’s been hard to find information out about someone. But today I had a wealth of choices, all top notch as well. I could’ve chosen Cristobal de Morales, who died on this day and was the leading composer of Spanish masses in his day. Or I could’ve chosen Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, who was born on this day in 1936. Instead, I decided to go with one of the world’s greatest performers, who has performed music in almost every known style. Happy Birthday Yo-Yo Ma, who turns 53 today. Continue reading “On This Day… October 7”
On This Day… October 6
Today we look at a pivotal moment in music history, the beginning of the baroque. On October 6, 1600, Jacopo Peri’s opera Euridice was premiered. This is the earliest known surviving opera, and is used by many historians to mark the beginning of the Baroque period. Continue reading “On This Day… October 6”
On This Day… October 5
Today we head over to France, and a composer who was one of the early originators of the operetta form. Though born in Germany, he spent most of his working life there, dying in Paris on the 5th of October, 1880. He is Jacques Offenbach. Continue reading “On This Day… October 5”
On This Day… October 4
Another performer today, and this time one who is most widely known for his two fantastic recordings of the same piece – both at the beginning and the end of his career. However, he was an incredible pianist in all styles of music. Today, we look at Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, who died on this day in 1982. Continue reading “On This Day… October 4”
On This Day… October 3
Today we move away from the composers and look instead at a conductor. The late 18th and early 19th century brought about a move away from composers as conductors and started to see conductors rise as prominent figures in their own right. Today we look at a man considered by many to be Britain’s leading conductor of Choral works, Sir Malcolm Sargent, who died on this day in 1967. Continue reading “On This Day… October 3”
On This Day… 2 October
As if we didn’t have enough composers to celebrate their birthdays of, the tradition has arisen that we also celebrate their dying- or death-day. We get major celebrations at 50 years after their death, which could also be 100 years after their birth. But either way, it’s an excuse for concert programmers to hold a concert. Or a number of concerts. Today we look at the first death-day of this series, that of the Romantic composer Max Bruch. Continue reading “On This Day… 2 October”
On This Day… October 1
The composer we look at today was very specific in his desires, throwing out many compositions which has reduced the amount of works that we can attribute to him. However, those that do survive we can be assured that they are the best quality. Today, we look at French composer, Paul Dukas. Continue reading “On This Day… October 1”
Tag, I’m it!
I got tagged in a meme by Anna Hill, which I’m most grateful for, not only for the hopefully increased traffic to my website, but also because I’m currently sick in bed with a cold, and this allows me to distract myself with something. Basically, the idea is to share 6 things that people don’t necessarily know about me, and then to tag 6 other people for them to share as well. Continue reading “Tag, I’m it!”
Ben Clapton 