Was There a Romantic Involvement Between Jenny Lind and Felix Mendelssohn?
In 2009, stories began to appear in the press about an intense relationship between Jenny Lind and Felix Mendelssohn, evidence for which had been deliberately destroyed by her widower, Otto Goldschmidt following her…
Tracing the Journey of the Harmonium: Exploring Its Evolution, Peak, and Decline as a Pump Organ
I have to own up. Like many of you, I’m sure, I had a blank spot as far as harmoniums are concerned. It’s that image in the mind of ageing…
Lizzo’s Flute Takes Center Stage in a Hilarious SNL Twerking Orchestra Sketch
Lizzo’s flute landed a starring role in a Saturday Night Live sketch as the singer inserted her own flair into an orchestra’s classical performance. As all diehard Lizzo fans know, the “Truth…
What musical instrument is the oldest in the world?
In 2009 an ancient flute, thought to be the world’s oldest musical instrument was found in a cave in Germany . Made of vulture bone, the instrument dates from around…
What was the reason for Bach’s imprisonment?
Johann Sebastian Bach’s strong awareness of his own genius wouldn’t have made the German composer an easy employee to satisfy. And, indeed, he seemed constantly dissatisfied with his lot throughout…
Did Handel Actually Survive a Swordfight Thanks to His Coat Button?
No one who attended the performance of Johann Mattheson’s new opera Die ungluckselige Cleopatra, Königin von Ägypten (‘Unfortunate Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt’) on the evening of 5 December 1704 at the Goose Market…
Exploring the Different Eras of Classical Music
Classical music can now largely be split into seven main periods, each with their own stylistic characteristics, innovations, offshoot movements and star names. Of course there’s all kinds of crossover…
Lucas Mason Yao: A Phenomenal Pianist and Counting Prodigy with an Astonishing Ability to Count to One Centillion
Prodigy is a word that is often applied to any gifted youngster but Lucas Mason Yao is showing the world what it truly means. When you first meet this bright,…
Top 10 Strangest Musical Instruments of All Time
10 weird and strange instruments 1. Theremin The theremin is the quintessence of ‘weird’, known, as it is, for its contactless playing technique, its use in science fiction films and the…
Clara Schumann: Discover the Neglected Genius of Romantic Composition
Clara Schumann, née Wieck, was born in Leipzig on 13 September 1819 and shot to fame as a child prodigy, performing in Paris, Vienna and across Europe in her teens.…