Beautiful Music

Today’s Beautiful Music was written long before the baroque era. It’s by an extraordinary, trailblazing woman in the 12th century – Hildegard von Bingen. She was not only a composer of sacred music — she was also interested in philosophy, herbology, biology and theology. This is a serene and expert performance of Hildegard’s music. Hildegard […]

I hope you enjoy this Beautiful Music by Johann Sebastian Bach as much as I do. It’s from Bach’s  Violin Partita No.2 in d minor, and it is played (expertly) on marimba by Matt Lau. Part of the genius of Bach is his music’s ability to be successfully transcribed for other instruments, as this captivating

This is the Beautiful Music of a human voice and a cornetto entwined. As you listen, you will hear how these two lines of music blend so completely that it is often difficult to discern them separately. Singer Hana Blažíková and cornetto player Bruce Dickey are the musicians.    

Happy Saint Cecilia Day! November 22 is the feast day of the patron saint of music and musicians, so as you might imagine, many composers have written music in her honor. This is Englishman Henry Purcell’s ode HAIL! BRIGHT CECILIA, performed by Ensemble Correspondances. You can also read more about St. Cecilia; there is a

Yesterday’s Beautiful Music featured violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Today, a special treat: Rachel’s daughter Sylvia, who is becoming an accomplished, articulate musician herself. I love the positivity and optimism of seeing a young musician developing her talents.    

Rachel Barton Pine is a terrific musician and an articulate teacher. Today’s Beautiful Music offering features her playing AND teaching about Johann Sebastian Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas.    

To paraphrase the old saying, two OBOES are better than one! This Beautiful Music is by Antonio Vivaldi — a Double Oboe Concerto. It’s played by Oboists Washington McClain and John Abberger, with Tafelmusik. You can also read more about the two soloists, using the links below.   Washington McClain https://africlassical.blogspot.com/2013/02/washington-mcclain-baroque-oboe.html John Abberger https://music.utoronto.ca/our-people.php?fid=55  

I admit it — I love music with a sense of humor. There is a series of “covers” of pop music performed in medieval style, with early instruments. They are expertly played, and great fun — so today’s Beautiful Music is from this clever series. Here’s hoping we’re all Stayin’ Alive!    

Yesterday’s Beautiful Music was composed by Dietrich Buxtehude, who was one of Johann Sebastian Bach’s idols. Today, it’s music by Franz Tunder, who preceded Buxtehude as main organist at the Marienkirche in Lubeck.    

Johann Sebastian Bach still inspires musicians of all genres, even centuries after his time. But who inspired Bach? One of his idols was Dietrich Buxtehude, the Danish-German organist and composer who composed this Beautiful Music. It’s a Sonata played by the Eroica Trio.