December 2021
-
Obscure Music Monday: Joplin's Reflection Rag
ldskjScott Joplin (c. 1867/68 - April 1, 1917) was an African-American composer and pianist, who came to be known as the "King of Ragtime Writers". Joplin was born in to a family of railroad laborers in Texas, but got as much musical knowledge as he could from local teachers, and ended up forming a vocal quartet, and teaching mandolin and... -
Obscure Music Monday: Farrenc's Violin Sonata No. 2
Louise Farrenc (May 31, 1804 - Sept. 15, 1875) was a French pianist, teacher, and composer. Born in Paris, she started the piano at an early age, and later on also showed a knack for composition. At the age of fifteen, her parents let her study composition with Anton Reicha at the Paris Conservatory. Later on she embarked upon a... -
Obscure Music Monday: Chrétien's Nocturne
Hedwige Chrétien (July 15 - 1859 - 1944) was a French composer, and not a great deal is known about her. She studied at the Paris Conservatory with Ernest Guiraud starting in 1874, and became a professor there in 1889. While she was a student, she won several awards for piano, counterpoint, harmony, and fugue, and she would go on to... -
Obscure Music Monday: Bowen's Nocturne, Op. 78
Edwin York Bowen (Feb. 22, 1884 - Nov. 23, 1961) was an English composer and conductor who played several instruments, including viola, horn, organ, and piano. He started piano lessons with his mother when he was very young, and his talent was recognized immediately. His musical education continued at the North Metropolitan College of Music, and then Blackheath Conservatoire of...