Posts

Sergei Prokofiev-16-This is the last composer we will study this year

Image
       Sergei Prokofiev is one of the most well-known composers of the 20th century. He was born in Ukraine when it was a part of the Russian Empire in 1891. From an early age, he listened to his mother play the piano, and by the age of five composed his first Sonata. By age nine he completed his first large-scale composition, an Opera called "The Giant". His first symphony was written at the age of eleven. He went on to compose "Peter and The Wolf", and the ballet "Romeo and Juliet". By the end of his life, he had written seven symphonies, seven operas, five piano concertos, and numerous other works. His music is wildly popular around the world. Try to listen to a bit of each example. Mr. Montague plays one of his Sonatas! Piano Concerto No. 3-listen to the first five minutes you will not be disappointed. Dance from "Romeo and Juliet" Peter and The Wolf Seventh Piano Sonata- Mr. Montague's favorite! If you c...
29 comments
Read more

Vivian Fung-15

Image
  Vivian Fung is a composer of amazing and award-winning music.  She is from Canada and currently lives in California. She studied music at The Julliard School. All of the music is amazing! Ominous - leave a comment with your thoughts! Pizzicato Earworms Kecak Attack for voices- this is amazing! If you want to learn more- listen to this interview
9 comments
Read more

Jennifer Higdon - 14

Image
American composer Jennifer Higdon has earned a Pulitzer Prize and Grammy award! She is also a self-taught musician and did not study music with a teacher until she was in college. Ms. Higdon was born in New York City but lived in Atlanta for 10 years during her youth. Higdon has composed several pieces of music for The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Currently, she teaches music at The Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where she wrote "Blue Cathedral" one of her most popular compositions. She recently picked up her third Grammy award for "Harp Concerto"! Blue Cathedral (link has been fixed) Percussion Concerto (this is a short excerpt, for the entire work click here ) - Grammy Award Winner! Violin Concerto (Pulitzer Prize Winner) Harp Concerto - part three "Joy Ride" (Grammy 2020)
34 comments
Read more

Thelonious Monk - 13

Image
When he was still a child Thelonious Monk taught himself how to play the piano. He began working as a musician while still a teenager! He had a full-time job playing piano and writing music before he was 25 years old. His music defined the style known as be-bop and inspired many other musicians to follow in his footsteps. Born in North Carolina, his family moved to New York City, when he was six years old, into a neighborhood full of musicians (see if you can find Thelonius in the picture above). Thelonious also earned a Pulitzer Prize for his music! Here are just a few of his many hits: In Walked Bud 'Round Midnight Straight, No Chaser And If you really like Thelonius, an entire concert!
41 comments
Read more

Florence Price-12

Image
Florence Price Florence Price was the first female African-American composer to have music performed by a major symphony orchestra! She attended the Prestigious New England Conservatory Of Music, and later served as the head of the music department at Clark Atlanta University. Like many other composer/song-writers, Ms. Price wrote music for commercials and movies in addition to these well-known compositions: Symphony No.1 in e minor Piano Sonata No.1 in e minor Dance: Nimble Feet Violin Concerto No.2 Honeysuckle At Dusk
60 comments
Read more

Scott Joplin - 11

Image
He is the most famous composer you've never heard of -- Scott Joplin was born near the end of 1867( the actual date is unknown) in Northern Texas. His mother was formerly enslaved and gave Scott some of his earliest music lessons. Scott taught himself to play the piano while his mother cleaned the houses of wealthy people who owned pianos (the Joplins did not have a piano at home). Later in his life, he began to write music and became known as "The King Of Ragtime" because of the style of music he created. An opera, music for ballet, and more than 44 ragtime dances for the piano are just a part of the music Joplin wrote in his life. Remember to say something about the music. Great story about Scott Joplin from NPR Here are some of his most well-known compositions: The Entertainer Maple Leaf Rag The Strenuous Life Easy Winners Treemonisha- Scott Joplin's Opera!  In English!
52 comments
Read more

Lera Auerbach-10

Image
  Lera Auerbach is a graduate of the Julliard School of music. She was born in the Soviet Union in 1973 and moved to the States in 1991. She has written music for piano, strings, and voice -- many of them award winning and worth your time! Don't forget to leave a comment- this time say something about one of the selections below. Here are some examples: Preludes for piano (Played by the composer) Icarus-music for orchestra Frozen Dreams Dreams and Whispers Of Poseidon (just listen to the first 3 minutes- you'll be hooked)
11 comments
Read more