Tag: Classical Connections
Classical Connections: Harping on
A well-established joke among musicians is that harps are like old people; they’re unforgiving and difficult to get in and out of cars. Harps...
Classical Connections: From song-plugger to star
George Gershwin had a modest start to his musical career. After leaving school at the age of fifteen his first job was a song-plugger...
Classical Connections: Seconds apart
One of the most satisfying things about playing in an orchestra is that you experience the music from a different perspective. It’s difficult to...
Classical Connections: Playing the System
There can be few classical music enthusiasts who haven’t heard of El Sistema, Venezuela’s vast music education programme. It emphasizes intensive ensemble work from...
Classical Connections: Festivals – without the water
It’s that time of year again when you’re either out in the streets having a hilarious time throwing water at everyone else or like...
Classical Connections: Choral contrasts
It’s probably a pretty safe bet to state that the first music ever to be heard on this planet was made by the human...
Classical Connections: Morning, Noon and Night
One of the old Bugs Bunny cartoons shows the illustrious rabbit attempting to conduct an orchestra, but thwarted in his attempt largely by a...
Classical Connections: Forgotten Voices
Right, let’s start with a test. I’ll give you a list of composers and we’ll see how many names you recognise. Here it is:...
Classical Connections: All Saxed Up
The River Meuse begins its long journey in France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands before reaching the North Sea. On the left...