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My favorite Canons and other Musical Puzzles II
Bach: Goldberg Variations
In his Goldberg Variations, Musical Offering, and the canonic variations on “Vom Himmel hoch,” Bach pursued canonic procedure to its absolute limits. The use of canon no longer merely serves to lend emphasis or cogency to the composer’s part-writing, but
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On This Day
10 October: Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten Was Premiered
Die Frau ohne Schatten (The Woman without a Shadow) became the third full operatic collaboration between Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Premiered on 10 October 1919 at the Vienna State Opera, the work is a complex mixture of operatic
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The Other Mozart
Story of Wolfgang’s Sister Maria Anna
When I read the announcement that Sylvia Milo’s solo play “The Other Mozart” would be presented in Little Rock at the CALS Ron Robinson Theater, I immediately wanted to see it. Especially since on that very day we were supposed
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On This Day
8 October: Tabea Zimmermann Was Born
Among today’s finest viola virtuosos, Tabea Zimmermann is lauded for her superb technique and an ample and supple tone. An artist of rare profundity, she was a prize winner at several international competitions, and she made her US début in
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On This Day
7 October: Charles Dutoit Was Born
Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit is renowned for polished and idiomatic interpretations of an eclectic array of musical styles. He has energetically travelled the globe in search of excellence and demonstrated a great affinity to French and Russian music, specifically in
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The Samuel Dushkin-Igor Stravinsky Collaborations
“Lyricism with rules”
During his long performing career, the Polish-American violinist and composer Samuel Dushkin (1891-1976) was never considered a flashy virtuoso violinist but rather a highly respected musician. In his recordings, Dushkin reveals a powerful vibrato on the lower strings. Possibly attributed
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My Favorite Canons and Other Musical Puzzles
When musicians and composers get together to have a little brainy fun, they generally turn towards counterpoint. But not just any counterpoint, as composers throughout the ages have looked towards imitative counterpoint as practiced in canons and rounds. So, what
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Seven Best Works by Clara Schumann, According to YouTube
Have you ever wanted a primer on Clara Wieck Schumann‘s works but didn’t know where to begin? Have you ever been curious about which of her works has resonated the most with listeners? Today, we’re going to YouTube for answers:
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