Variations in music is a special genre often regarded by many as less important or inferior to sonatas, symphonies. Although many great composers created variations, it was Beethoven who had elevated this genre to a high(er) level and convinced critics to accept it. What is a variation? It is a musical structure, where a main musical idea called a theme …
In this article we continue our series on musical instruments, this time with the magical sounding flute. The flute has a long, long tradition and has been part of human music making from the dawn of history. The flute is one of the oldest musical instruments in human history, some primitive versions made from animal bones were found during excavations, …
After the piano we continue our studies on musical instruments. Next in line is the violin. This popular, sensitive and wonderfully singing instrument is fundamentally important in the history of music. Great-great-grandfather of any violin is the lira. The lira is a pearl shaped bowed instrument with three or five strings. This device is still alive and kicking, as in …
Listening and enjoying Beethoven’s music is not always an easy task. He demands attention, attention to every small detail. More than that, he demands dedication and an open heart. In this article we will see that his music is not for background noise during driving home or for elevators in expensive hotels. In order to capture its fullness and deepness …
We all tend to imagine Beethoven as a tragic hero, struggle against fate, his face always clouded, writing pieces like the Fifth Symphony or the Appassionata. Well, this is certainly not the truth! He loved to laugh, joke around, kidding his friends. Moreover, his music is full of joy and joking, just listen to the final movement of the Eight …
The piano is a magnificent instrument, capable to channel the divine to our ears and hearts. It is a complicated instrument, as well. It takes two years to dry the wood used for the body, a full year and close to 12 thousand parts to build one. The piano, as we know it, was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori, around 1700. …