Mozart Symphony #41: Jupiter II Andante Cantabile

Even after a lifetime involved in music, I still find myself challenged when I try to focus my listening on a piece of music. I start out with all good intentions but at some point I find that I have gone into “monkey brain” and my mind is jumping all over the place. I look…

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

The Gloria is taken from the passage in scripture when the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds who were watching their sheep by night.

Voices

This blog is to be used as a listening guide. The steps I have listed below are an example of the type of process I might use when I write about art and music. I have put this method down to specifically be used by a musical discussion group I lead on Wednesday night but…

Music that Binds Us Together

In every class I teach, at some point, I will play Bach’s prelude for cello. It is one of my favorite pieces of music and I have found that it is a good way to introduce Bach to young listeners. I believe it is because this music really speaks to the heart of who Bach…

Elgar: The Poet

This performance of British composer Sir Edward Elgar’s (1857-1934) String Serenade in e minor features the string section of the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra playing some of the most celebrated string music of all time. I really enjoy watching string players as they pull the bow across the strings and their instrument becomes an extension of…