Did you know❓
German composer Robert Schumann (1810—1856), especially known for his piano music, songs (Lieder), and orchestral works, was meant to become a lawyer following his family's wish. He studied the piano from the age of six and in his teen years he was fascinated and influenced by Franz Schubert and German poet Jean Paul Richter, who inspired him to start composing his own songs. Despite entering the University of Leipzig to study Law in 1828, his efforts were dedicated to composing and improvising on the piano as well as to writing, a passion he would pursue throughout his entire life.
His dream of becoming a successful pianist was cut short by an accident to his right hand caused by a mechanical device of his own creation that was meant to help him speed up his progress and improve his dexterity. From that moment on, playing the piano caused Schumann great pain and he was forced to become a composer.
According to some sources, he is credited with the creation of chamber music with his "Piano Quintet", the first known musical work of its kind to use a string quartet with piano. The work was dedicated by Schumann to his beloved wife and Clara Wieck, whom he had first met when he started to take piano lessons from her father. At the time, the girl was only nine years old but already a promising pianist. In 1836, when Clara was 16, the then 25-year-old composer fell in love with her and subsequently broke off his engagement to Ernestine von Fricken, but Clara's father strongly opposed their relationship. It would take four years for the couple to finally make their relationship official, as Schumann had to settle Wieck’s legal objection to their marriage in court.
Greetings, folks! We hope you're all having a brilliant weekend ☀️
Tomorrow is Mother's Day and this celebration got us thinking about the importance of family and how some of us learned to love classical music thanks to a mother, a father, a grandparent or a relative who enjoyed it and played it around the house when we were growing up. For this reason, today's question is meant to acknowledge the significant role family can play in shaping the people we become and the passions we develop. What is a classical piece that makes you think of your family, your childhood or a beloved relative? Let us know in the comments and let's celebrate the people we love! 💝
Did you know❓
Romantic German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms (1833—1897) showed a great musical talent since childhood, and he first studied with his father learning to play violin, cello and piano.
Since his family didn't have many financial means, from age 14 to 16 he played the piano in dance halls, taverns, brothels, inns, and along Hamburg's docks to help support them. He also started to compose his first works around this time, which he would later destroy as an adult because he found them embarrassing. The same fate was reserved to the compositions that didn't meet the high standards Brahms was known to set for himself.
After Beethoven had showed the Western world his greatness through his majestic symphonies, Brahms was afraid that anything he could come up with would be underwhelming, and he worked on his 1st Symphony for over 20 years before he deemed the result acceptable. Now widely considered one of the greatest symphonies of the Austro-German tradition, it was intentionally premiered in Karlsruhe and not in Vienna in 1876 to avoid comparisons with Beethoven. The premiere went quite smoothly, but Brahms himself wasn't too satisfied and described his composition as being "long and not especially amiable". The comparisons he sought to avoid eventually emerged when the Symphony was performed in Vienna, but renowned Austrian music critic Hanslick also praised the work as “one of the most individual and magnificent of the symphonic literature.”
It's the weekend, so we hope you're ready for your favourite (?) Saturday poll! 🤗
This time, imagine scientists have finally managed to invent a time machine and you get the chance to travel back in time to see your favourite classical composer perform (note that we're using 'classical' in its general meaning, with no distinction of musical periods). Whose concert would you want to attend?
You get four options as usual but you can leave your personal picks in the comments, and you're also welcome to add non-classical and contemporary musicians 🎸
Did you know❓
Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, or The Younger, (1825–1899), is regarded as "The Waltz King" as he composed over 500 waltzes and gave a significant contribution to the huge popularity reached by the waltz in Vienna during the 19th century. If he had listened to his father, though, he would have become a bank clerk and the world might have never heard masterpieces like "The Blue Danube" or "Emperor Waltz" to name a few. In fact, Johann Strauss I too was a famous composer of light music, especially waltzes and polkas, and his fame had reached the ears of Queen Victoria, whose accession to the throne and coronation he had been invited to provide music for.
Strauss I had banned his three sons from pursuing a career in music, and when he discovered Johann practising on a violin one day he gave him a terrible whipping, claiming that he was going to beat the music out of him. But young Johann studied the violin without his father's knowledge and with the support of his mother, who instead viewed favourably his wish to become a composer.
Having a famous composer as a father made it difficult for Strauss II to start his career, but at age 19 he put together his own orchestra and managed to get a gig at a Casino, making his way up from there to the point where many years later he would eclipse his father's success. Despite their rivalry, Johann often performed his father's works and showed admiration for them.
Ironically, Johann's other brothers Eduard and Josef, who were also expected to pursue non-musical careers, became musicians as well.
We hope everyone's having a great weekend!🌷
Today we'd like to ask you to pick a soundtrack for a specific scenario. Imagine you're a knight preparing to lead your loyal fellow knights into battle against the enemy who's planning to storm your castle. To the sound of which classical piece would you lead the charge? (Yes, we know this is historically inaccurate but let's pretend it isn't 😎).
Add your picks in the comment and tell us how the battle would go! ⚔️
Did you know❓
French composer and conductor Louis-Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) was expected to follow in his father's footsteps and become a physician, so he didn't receive a significant music education as a child, only learning the basics of flute and guitar and never taking any piano lessons. Despite feeling revulsion when faced with the practice of dissecting bodies to examine them in class, he forced himself to finish his studies and graduated from medical college, then promptly abandoned medicine much to his parents' dismay.
Berlioz was passionate about Shakespeare, a lifelong love sparked by performances of Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet that he attended in 1827, so much that he studied English to be able to read the Bard's works in the original language. He also developed an obsession with Harriet Smithson, the leading actress of the theatre company, that lasted several years as she initially refused to even meet him. The two would eventually marry in 1833 when Smithson career was in decline, and many scholars debate whether her financial situation played a part in her change of heart.
Violinist virtuoso Niccolò Paganini was impressed by Berlioz's 'Symphonie Fantastique', and he asked him to compose a piece for him. Berlioz worked on a 'symphony with viola obbligato', 'Harold in Italy', but Paganini wasn't satisfied with it and refused to perform it. Only years later, when the symphony was played at a concert he attended, did the virtuoso realise his mistake. He came onstage, knelt in front of Berlioz and kissed his hand proclaiming him a genius whose destiny was to carry on the new musical tradition initiated by Beethoven. A few days later, the composer was shocked to receive a cheque for 20,000 francs from Paganini, which allowed him to settle his wife's and his debts and to dedicate himself to further compositions.
Cinephiles, it's your time to shine! 📽️✨
We all know that classical music is often used to make a scene more poignant, epic, dramatic or memorable - which begs the question: in your opinion, what is the best use of classical music in a film/animated movie/TV series? You know, that one music choice that made you bawl your eyes out, grip the edge of your seat or that gave you goosebumps? Let us know your favourite in the comments and let's exchange film recs! We're ready to take notes ✍️
Did you know❓
Italian composer and violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini (1782–1840) started performing in his early teenage years and his reputation grew steadily with every concert. The financial independence he gained so young allowed him to distance himself from his strict father, but led him to indulge in excessive gambling. Because of this habit, it is said that he lost a Guarnieri violin given to him by an admirer in a bet, which left Paganini without an instrument of his own to perform with. Giuseppe del Guarnieri was an Italian luthier and his violins are considered rivals to those made by Antonio Stradivari, which some even claim were inferior in quality. Years later, Paganini later acquired another Guarneri violin, the so-called "Cannone" (the Cannon), which became his favourite.
His prodigious virtuosity and his tall, thin and always black-clad frame inspired many legends and rumours, the most notable being that either he or his mother had made a pact with the devil.
He is also known for the quote "Paganini non ripete" ("Paganini does not repeat"), which is linked to his love for improvisation that made his performances hard to repeat. The famous line was pronounced in response to the request by King Charles Felix, who had come watch him play in Genoa, that he perform one of his pieces a second time.
Guess what folks – we have another poll for you! 😎
Today's question was directly inspired by our "Rock Goes Classical" compilation featuring famous rock songs with a classical makeover (missed it? watch it here: http://youtu.be/785MSFXBrf4). We know that many of you love rock and even heavier music genres (we do too btw) so let's hear it: who was the ultimate rockstar of the classical world? Who rocks your socks off when you listen to their compositions? 🎸🎼 As always, you're welcome to add your picks and discuss/elaborate in the comments!
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