Composers throughout history have created great masterworks of art during times of hardship, here’s an examination of three such pieces.
Tag: 20th century composer
An Introduction to 20th Century Composer Christian Wolff
Today we’re taking an introductory look at one of the 20th century’s most daring avant-garde composers and his music, Christian Wolff.
György Ligeti’s ‘Musica Ricercata’: Is It Possible to Compose with Just One Note?
We look at Ligeti’s famous composition in order to decide how much, or how little, the use of music’s foundational parameters really matter in composing.
The 13 Most Important Composers of the 21st Century So Far
This list profiles the most influential composers of the current century. But these artists are linked by more than just their accolades. Read on!
Why Are There No Saxophones in Orchestras?
A quick historical deep dive on the journey of the saxophone from French military pride to jazz band spotlight, but never the symphonic orchestra.
5 Important Works That Call for a Theremin Soloist
You may know the theremin as the sci-fi sound of aliens and robots, but it’s been used by composers all over the world in concert music too. Let’s explore!
Talking Points: Igor Stravinsky on How New Problems Require New Approaches
In this edition of “Talking Points,” influencial composer Igor Stravinsky shares his thoughts on composition, creativity, craftsmanship, and other topics.
What We Learned from ‘Composers or Types of Pasta’
Thanks to a hilarious internet quiz, we’ve discovered works from 8 spectacular Italian composers that we definitely thought were types of pasta.
Reflections on Nico Muhly’s Composing Process
How does composer Nico Muhly stay organized while juggling travel, commission deadlines, meetings, collaborations, and his own creativity?
Why Do We Like Sad Music So Much? On ‘Life and Death’ From ‘Lost’
Let’s look at how music can make a song sound sad even when there are no lyrics — and why we like that so much.