Maria Magdalena Keverich Beethoven, the mother of Ludwig van Beethoven, tends not to play a major role in retellings of the great composer’s life. This is a shame, because her life and death reverberated through her son’s life. Speaking more

In a world where your inbox is a horror movie and your notifications are basically a marching band, we all need a moment to unclench. Luckily, we celebrate “World Meditation Day” on 21 May, or if you follow the United

Historically, symphony finales have been fast, loud, and showy. It’s easy to understand why: big, brash finales leave listeners with exciting last impressions. However, such finales are not, strictly speaking, necessary. Sometimes composers subvert expectations in favour of quieter, more

Music is always an important part of any funeral service or memorial service. The right choice of music can pay tribute to the deceased’s tastes and provide comfort to the mourners left behind. Have you ever wondered what music the

Every third Saturday in May, and that’s 17 May in 2025, we celebrate World Fiddle Day. It’s a day for a global hoedown where fiddles screech, twang, and produce off-key notes like a squirrel caught in a banjo. World Fiddle

Brazil is an immensely rich country with a strong musical culture and identity. It is the fifth largest country in the world, and this is reflected in the diversity of its arts. Alone, its music has influenced a plethora of

The Welsh composer, Alun Hoddinott (1929–2008), made Cardiff, Wales, the basis for his work, first as an undergraduate at the University, then as Lecturer, and finally Professor and Head of Music (1949–1987). One of the important legacies he left was

In part one, we identified what musical repeatism is, why the contemporary technological landscape makes it uniquely possible, and the potential benefits of repeatism in regulating mood and enabling deep focus. We also touched on the idiosyncratic and highly personal