Just three posts after writing about Ludovico Einaudi, I’m covering Karl Jenkins. In case you’re alarmed at my swerving into the mainstream, don’t worry. I’ll be back to investigating Scriabin deep cuts and making lofty rankings soon enough. The truth is, these classical “crossover” artists are making up a larger and larger portion of print... Continue Reading →
Yeah, I know. You’ve probably been hearing Beethoven on the radio, from your piano students, from your local orchestra, and from everyone who is scrambling to make Beethoven’s 250th anniversary a big deal (even though it’s not till December 2020). But have you heard this piece? I sure hadn’t. And I’m….really into Beethoven. If you're... Continue Reading →
It’s safe to say that people are experiencing classical music differently today than in the past. The internet has put music resources immediately at hand that would have been unthinkable even twenty years ago. I can search for a really obscure piece of classical music on YouTube or whatever, and chances are I’ll be able... Continue Reading →
Ludovico Einaudi writes quiet, simple, meditative music, mostly for piano. And he’s a global phenomenon. He sold out seven nights at the Barbican in London. His latest album, Seven Days Walking: Day One, achieved two million online streams on its release day, making it the fastest streamed classical album of all time. Meanwhile, from my... Continue Reading →
If you ask someone to name a Polish composer, Frédéric Chopin will probably be the answer about 99% of the time. His influence and status as a symbol of Polish pride continues to this day, and his legacy has inspired a long, rich piano tradition continuing with pianists like Artur Rubinstein and Krystian Zimerman. In... Continue Reading →
I’m still taking some time to sort out all the riches of The Etude magazine, but in the meantime here’s some straight-up repertoire discussion. Don't confused by the title "duet" – these are for one player, but the title comes from the fact that they are written in two voices. I became interested in these... Continue Reading →
Hal Leonard Classical Piano Blog 