(Hans Iz’-le) 1898–1962 German composer A pupil of Schoenberg, but also a committed Communist, Eisler appalled his teacher by writing political music in a popular style derived from cabaret and marches. A refugee in the US during World War II, he was investigated by Senator McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee, and spent the rest of his life ...
was a respected teacher, notably of Messiaen. Recommended Recording: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, New York PO (cond) Leonard Bernstein (Sony) Introduction | Modern Era | Classical Personalities | Hanns Eisler | Modern Era | Classical ...
1857–1934 English composer Elgar was born at Broadheath, near Worcester. His father ran a music shop in Worcester, where Elgar embarked on a course of self-instruction that made him total master of music’s craft and one of the world’s greatest orchestrators. Brought up a Roman Catholic in a Protestant community and a tradesman’s son, Elgar never felt socially ...
(Arnst Ta’-o-dôr A-ma-da’-oos Hof’-man) 1776–1822 German writer and composer E.T.A. Hoffmann’s wide-ranging talents were the source of great inspiration throughout the nineteenth century, and composers who drew on his stories include Schumann (Kreisleriana) and Offenbach (Les contes d’Hoffmann). He was also an astute and perceptive critic, and his review in 1810 of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is justly famous. ...
1875–1962 American violinist Kreisler’s international career began with the Berlin Philharmonic under Nikisch in 1899. His London debut was in 1902. Elgar wrote his Violin Concerto for him, and he gave the first performance in 1910. He was known for the perfection of his playing and the pieces that he composed and passed off as the work of eighteenth-century composers. ...
(Vocal/instrumental group, 1993–present) Forming in New York, Huey Morgan (vocals, guitar), Steve Borovini (drums, programming) and Brian ‘Fast’ Leisler (bass, keyboards) blended hip hop, funk and soundtrack references on early releases with some success. Debut album Come Find Yourself (1996) was a fine work spawning the addictive single ‘Scooby Snacks’. Barry White tribute single ‘Love ...
(Ro’-bârt Shoo’-man) 1810–56 German composer Robert Schumann, in his life and music, embodied many of the central themes of the German Romantic movement: steeped in German literary Romanticism, he composed Lieder combining the melodic simplicity of German folk tradition with expressive harmonic setting, wrote poetically titled miniatures, and composed music rich in literary inspiration and allusion. His ...
1895–1967 American flautist After studying in New York, Kincaid joined the New York Symphony Orchestra and, later, the New York Chamber Music Society. He was principal flute of the Philadelphia Orchestra 1921–26 and taught at the Curtis Institute. Introduction | Modern Era | Classical Personalities | Fritz Kreisler | Modern Era | Classical ...
Until it was reclaimed with an ironic wink by 1990s hipsters, easy listening had been hugely popular, but rarely cool. While the teenagers of the 1950s and 1960s were getting off on dangerous rock’n’roll and subversive R&B, their parents were sweetly cocooned in the music of Mantovani and Percy Faith. Easy listening music never launched any rebellions; no ...
Unlike the ‘New German School’ of Liszt and Wagner, Schumann did not pursue a path of radical experimentation in form and harmony; his style more aptly encapsulates German literary Romanticism in music, interpreting the rhythms and melodic shapes of German poetry and folk music through his own ardent and whimsical nature, and incorporating themes and ideas from Goethe ...
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