Who wrote it better? Tchaikovsky vs. Rimsky-Korsakov
“Want to hear ‘Dance of the Tumblers’?” “Sure! That’s a great piece!” ♪♫ music starts playing ♪♫ “That’s not it.” “Um, yes it is. See the title? It’s from The Snow Maiden” “I know...
Tonal Diversions Music Music Appreciation Blog
What’s Playing at Tonal Diversions – September 2017
It’s been a while since I’ve done a review post and thought it was time to do another. Please note that I’m an Amazon affiliate, so purchases made via Amazon links to benefit the...
Help Celebrate the 150th Birthday of This Pioneering Composer
Happy birthday, Amy Beach! Who’s Amy Beach, you ask? Sadly, too many people ask that question, despite her being one of America’s foremost woman composers. As today is the 150th anniversary of her birth,...
Escape to Veracruz Through Márquez’s Sultry “Danzon No. 2”
Let’s travel to Alamos, Mexico, birthplace of composer Arturo Márquez. Márquez was born in 1950 in Alamos, living there until 1962, when his family moved to Los Angeles County, California. He was exposed to...
In High Praise of the Adult Amateur Musician
I attended the first-ever Chicago Clarinet Symposium this weekend at Northeastern Illinois University. It was two days filled with everything clarinet: master classes, concerts, vendor displays and sample instruments. I enjoyed my time there....