Jacques Offenbach 1819-1880 *We are all very familiar with Offenbach’s Can Can from Orpheus in the Underworld – be it through opera, music lessons or on my part frantically kicking my legs up and down on the dance floor whilst desperately trying to cling on to the people at the side of me. This is a song that… Read More »
Arcangelo Corelli 17 Feb 1653 – 18 Jan 1713 Corelli was an Italian violinist and composer during the Baroque period. He was born in Italy on 17 February 1653 – a full generation before Handel and Bach. Although he didn’t create the concerto grosso principle Corelli was the composer that brought it to the forefront and made it… Read More »
Johannes Brahms was German composer and pianist, born in Hamburg. Such was his presence that he is often grouped with Bach and Beethoven to be know as the ‘Three B’s’ At a young age his piano teacher was known to have said, “he could be such a good player, but he will not stop his never-ending composing.” His… Read More »
Handel’s was born 333 years ago this year 23 Feb 1685 – 14 Apr 1759(Born in Germany, however, in 1726 he became a naturalized British subject) I often create a Facebook post to celebrate a composer’s birth or death and when doing so I search the internet for an unusual piece of information that I… Read More »
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. Born in Genoa in 1782, he was taught by his rather strict father – apparently if he didn’t complete the required number of hours practicing he was not allowed to eat! At the age of six he received lessons from some of the best teachers in Genoa, and by 1790,… Read More »
Frederic Chopin’s father taught French and played the flute and violin and his mother played the piano giving lessons to boys at the boarding house they ran. Chopin wrote poetry and composed at an early age. Some say that after listening to Niccolò Paganini play the violin in 1828 Chopin and composing a set of variations, Souvenir de Paganini;… Read More »
Mozart is one of the most popular classical composers. If you ask anyone they are likely to know at least one of his pieces (even if they don’t know its name!). He was born in Salzberg on 27 January 1756 and lived a short life spanning only 35 years. Leopold Mozart was the father of seven children, Unfortunately only… Read More »