August 2017
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Obscure Music Monday: Marsick's La Source
Armand Marsick (Sept. 20, 1877 - April 30, 1959) was a Belgian conductor, composer, violinist, musicologist, and professor. He began his musical studies with his father, Louis Marsick, and then composition at the Liege Conservatory at only ten years old, then the Nancy Conservatory, and eventually studied with Vincent d'Indy in Paris. Continue reading → -
Obscure Music Monday: Langgaard's Music of the Spheres
Rued Langgaard (July 28, 1893 - July 10, 1952) was a Danish composer and organist, born to musical parents. He began piano lessons at five years old, with his parents as his first teachers, and was playing Chopin Mazurkas at age seven. He started composing not long after for the piano, and began taking organ and violin lessons. Continue reading → -
Obscure Music Monday: Szymanowska's Grand Valse for Piano Four Hands
Maria Szymanowska (Dec. 14, 1789 - July 25, 1831) was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. Born in Warsaw, the history of her musical studies is largely unknown, but we know that she gave her first public recitals in Paris and Warsaw in 1810. Continue reading → -
Obscure Music Monday: Bantock's The Pierrot of the Minute
Sir Granville Ransome Bantock (Aug. 7, 1868 - Oct. 16, 1946) was a British composer and conductor, born in London. His parents hoped he would enter the Indian Civil Service, but poor health would prevent him from that. He turned to chemical engineering, but around 20 years old, he started looking at musical manuscripts. His first teacher was at Trinity College of Music, and in 1888 he entered the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Frederick Corder. Continue reading →