Blogs

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Monuments of Sound
Classical Music’s Longest Piano Journeys
Buckle up for a musical marathon, as this blog will feature some of the longest piano pieces in the classical repertoire. There are probably many reasons why composers craft such monumental work. It might be for a mix of artistic,
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Stories in Music
Smetana “From My Life”
I’ve always loved music that tells a story, because it captures the human experience in all its raw beauty and complexity. Music can paint vivid pictures with melody and rhythm, with each note a thread in the tapestry of a
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The Phenomenon of Musical Repeatism, Part One
In an article for KQED, Jonathan Curiel coins the term “musical repeatism” to describe the phenomenon of wanting to listen to a piece of music over and over and over. In Spotify’s 2022 edition of Wrapped – the data-driven and
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Do Not Mistake Activity for Progress: A Lesson for Musicians
The phrase “Do not mistake activity for progress” serves as a powerful reminder that being busy is not the same as being effective. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the life of a musician, where countless hours are spent
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The Art of Interpretation
The art of interpretation is unique to Western classical music. An entire tradition has developed from this, and has prolonged the music of past composers for centuries, with novelty being brought performer after performer and interpretation after interpretation. Interpretation is
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Ode to Joy
Why Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Had Everyone Singing and Crying
It was May 7, 1824, and Vienna’s Kärntnertor Theater was about to witness history—or possibly a musical trainwreck. Beethoven, profoundly deaf, took the stage for the premiere of his Symphony No. 9 in D minor. The night would turn out
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Six of the Best Classical Music Streams: Which One Is Best For You?
If you love classical music, there is a classical music stream out there for you! Today, we’re looking at six options: five that originated as radio stations (although some have evolved far beyond basic over-the-air broadcasting) and one that began
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Global Giggle Fest
World Laughter Day Unleashes Hilarity
On the first Sunday in May, we celebrate World Laughter Day. It all started in a park in Mumbai in 1998 when Dr. Madan Kataria gathered hundreds of people in a laughter yoga movement. It started with some fake-laughing until
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