Modes of living

In quest of meaning and happiness with Kierkegaard’s ‘Stages on life’s way’.   Human beings are complex creatures. One might expect that today, when life is more convenient, safe and easier than ever in history, the species is thriving. Extreme poverty decreased significantly globally, through medical and technological advancement life expectancy is higher than ever, access to healthcare and education …

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Was Beethoven a genius?

Was Beethoven a genius?

A transformation of meaning: from inspired mad people to high IQ.   The short answer is yes, but it is worth spending some more time with this article and the concept of genius! The word and its meaning has a remarkable history and as it happens often with human concepts, it has undergone a significant transformation throughout history. The Greeks …

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Streaming classical music concerts

Classical music concert streaming

What are classical music concert streaming services? Several platforms offer online streaming of classical music concerts, both audio only and video, bringing the concert hall experience to your home. These service providers boast an extensive library of live and on-demand performances from renowned orchestras and soloists worldwide, plus interesting interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and documentaries. Some specialize in orchestral music with …

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Stephen Malinowski and his Music Animation Machine

Stephen Malinowski

A conversation about understanding music, Beethoven’s Große Fuge, and musical animation.   American composer, pianist and software engineer, Stephen Malinowski, is best known for his musical animations, nicknamed Music Animation Machine. His visual representations help to understand the different textures in a piece of music, that is, the different layers of sound, and the relationship between them. They are colourful …

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How did Beethoven celebrate Christmas?

How did Beethoven celebrate Christmas?

Customs of the time were not that different from ours today. Let’s dive in and discover the contemporary Vienna!   How Beethoven celebrated Christmas? Apart from a short recollection from his childhood years, including holiday wurst, wine, punch, coffee, singing and playing, we do not know how Beethoven celebrated Christmas. We do know, however, that he was baptized as a …

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The month of December

The month of December

The uniqueness of December is always in the air. Even Beethoven saved many of his greatest works to premier in this month.   December is a unique month and for most of our readers a special month, too. It is also a very busy month, partly because of the holidays, but also as it marks the end of the current …

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