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Programmatic & Absolute Music: What’s the Difference?
A. Kori Hill A lot of the music covered so far tells a specific story, like Harry T. Burleigh’s “Deep River”; Wynton Marsalis’ A Fiddler’s Tale; and Antonio Vivaldi’s The […]
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major “Turkish”
A. Kori Hill Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major is one of his most performed and recorded concertos. If you’re a classical violinist, you’ve probably learned […]
Amplifying Black Voices from Past to Present
Iman J. Williams Hi, I’m Iman, the new Classics for Kids Intern! I am a flutist, activist, and plant enthusiast. I’ve been playing the flute since I was 10 years […]
The Concerto, Part 2: Antonio Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons”
A. Kori Hill Some folks joke that Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) wrote the same concerto 200 times. He didn’t; he wrote at least 300, some think as many as 500, though […]
The Concerto Part 1: Saint Georges Violin Concertos, Op. 7, No. 1 in A Major & Op. 5, No. 2 in A Major
A. Kori Hill Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799), was a virtuoso violinist, composer, conductor, and fencer. His life brought him into contact with many famous people. As the music […]
Art Songs and Concert Spirituals, Part 2: Burleigh, Price, Schubert, and Schumann
I like to think of art songs and concert spirituals as mini operas, as they are vocal pieces that tell a dramatic, emotional story. It can be a narrative; a […]
Art Song & Concert Spiritual
It was momentous, Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial Concert. On Easter Sunday, 1939, in response to being denied the use of DAR Constitution Hall due to her race, Anderson found herself […]
Introducing the Cantata with Margaret Bonds
Growing up in Chicago, Margaret Bonds was surrounded by music. Her mother, Estella Bonds, was an organist and fixture of the South Side’s classical music scene. Her composition teachers included […]
Introducing the Oratorio with George Frideric Handel
Even if you don’t know it, you’ve probably heard it. I’m talking about “Hallelujah” from George Frideric Handel’s oratorio, Messiah. Celebrating the triumph of the Christian savior, Jesus Christ, over […]
