Lockdown Music 24: The most beautiful piano music there is – that no one knows!
This was a great discovery for me. The slow movement of this piano sonata by Schubert is so simple, beautiful and moving, I want to share it with everyone:
Lockdown Music 23: Serious Fun! – Ligeti Romanian Concerto
This great piece is slightly schizophrenic – is it a serious piece of music over-run by people having fun, or a fun piece that’s occasionally trying to look serious? Ligeti was showing his love for Romania, but the Soviet Hungarians … Listen
Lockdown Music 22: Five Play Dangerous Music ! ( by Ligeti)
The Soviet authorities banned the last of Ligeti’s excellent and entertaining Six Bagatelles for wind quintet – too dangerous and subversive. Were they right? Intro: Music here on film – highly recommended: and here: Total listen time 17′
Lockdown Music 21: The Original Greatest Showman’s Half-time Show – Handel’s Concerto Grosso No 6
The composer Handel knew what the people wanted – and it was normally more Handel. Here’s a piece written to go in the interval of a Handel show! Emotional, passionate, invigorating. Intro: Music here: And here: Total listen time 20′
Lockdown Music 20: Raucous celebration, accidents and bad traffic: Handel’s Fireworks Music
I was going to play something quiet… and then came across this Handel’s Fireworks Music. It’s brilliant – these performances are raw, raucous and exuberant and it’s more fun than this great piece has ever been. Music here with pictures … Listen
Lockdown Music 19: A 200 year-old piece for the Dance Music generation – Beethoven’s 7th Symphony
This actually might be the best thing ever: the end of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. And it’s the thing that got me into music in the first place. A piece so full of relentless energy it almost belongs in a nightclub. … Listen
Lockdown Music 18: The best piece ever? Rossini’s William Tell Overture
My daughter declares this the best music ever! It’s the William Tell Overture by Rossini. Do you agree? Intro here: Music here: or here on Spotify: Into & music = 15 mins Please comment, like, share, subscribe to the podcast.
Lockdown Music 17: Pianist, prodigy, wife, mother, composer – meet Clara Schumann
Clara Schumann was not only a brilliant and successful internationally famous pianist but found time to write music as well as support her husband, composer Robert Schumann, and raise a massive family. Her Three Romances for piano are great: intimate, … Listen
Lockdown Music 17: Joy by the river – Robert Schumann’s 3rd Symphony
This is a big favourite in our house. No one matches Schumann when it comes to joyful music! Music here: or on Spotify: Please comment, like, share, subscribe!