Edward T. Cone - 100 Years
The range of his writings, I think, reflects the range of his music. Not in any sense that it's a mixture of styles, but rather that it reflects all that he learned and assimilated. Mr. Cone's style...
View ArticleRoque Cordero - 100 Years, 1. Life and works for solo instruments
Roque Cordero (1917-2008) was a composer, conductor, writer and educator born in Panama City into a working class, non-musical family of African origin. While studying plumbing, he played violin in the...
View ArticleRoque Cordero - 100 Years, 2. Chamber music: 2 - 7 instruments
I did mention that I write for professionals: people who are dedicated to playing their instruments. And I demand from them the best so that when I am writing I am not considering “Now, let’s make it...
View ArticleRoque Cordero - 100 Years, 3. Orchestral and choral works
When I write for orchestra, the truth is that I see two conductors for my music: that one there [referring to a photograph on the office wall of conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos] and myself. Although I am...
View ArticleRené Costy - 100 Years, 1. Life, early work, and Danger, Suspense et Eprouvettes
When classical musicians asked him: René, why waste your time with those jazz people?, he said: Be quiet. There is one kind of music: "the good kind," and then there is the "bad" kind.(1)René Costy...
View ArticleRené Costy - 100 Years, 2. Classically inspired works
The lure of international show business was wasted on him and consequently, his name has remained a well-kept secret. (1)In 1962 René Costy (1917-1997) was appointed sound engineer at the...
View ArticleRené Costy - 100 Years. 3. Mood
René Costy (1917-1997) started as a classical violinist, fell in love with jazz during World War II, and then built a career in radio and television as a sound engineer, composing music as needed in...
View ArticleRené Costy - 100 Years, 4. Groove and Funk
But cream always rises to the top. Some twenty years after his passing, his work – finally – goes global. (1)We've already heard much very appealing music written, co-written or produced by René Costy...
View ArticleChristmas 2017, 1. Works by Hubert Waelrant and a few others (16th - 19th...
🎄 Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to all! 🎄To set the mood, let's look to some composers who had anniversaries this year, some we had a chance to explore earlier in the year and some we did not. Where...
View ArticleChristmas 2017, 2. Religious music (20th century)
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄The twentieth century, with all its struggles and shifts, did produce some wonderful and deeply religious music for the Christmas holy day. Here are some pieces, all...
View ArticleChristmas 2017, 3. Popular music (20th century)
The twentieth century was great for Christmas carols and popular holiday music, especially in the United States and England. Following are some samples from composers, arrangers or performers who were...
View ArticleMusic of winter and other seasons
At this time of midwinter and to remind ourselves that other seasons will eventually come, here is some relaxing music, all composed, arranged or performed by musicians born in 1917, a number of them...
View Article2017 anniversaries, 1. Classical
With 2017 fleeting away, my remaining posts will all feature videos of composers, arrangers and performers born 100 years ago in 1917--101 years in the case of Yehudi Menuhin featured below, first by...
View Article2017 anniversaries, 2. Modern and Postmodern Classical
Many twentieth century took their style a lot farther than the late and neo-romantic and neoclassical styles we heard in my previous post and whose music remained primarily tonal. Modernism,...
View Article2017 anniversaries, 3. Jazz
While classical music underwent its modernist transformations in the twentieth century, jazz emerged as a whole new and independent genre with roots in West African and African-American traditions and...
View Article2017 anniversaries, 4. Popular, band and anthem
The musicians born in 1917 lived through World War II. Many of them served in the military, some of them outright heroes. Some made their careers in the military. Many composed for winds and brass, led...
View ArticleNew Year's Eve 2017
It is time for some good old songs, a couple of sleigh rides, thoughts about midnight, and one very special call for peace. The arranger of the first piece was born 200 years ago. The arrangers,...
View ArticleNew Year 2018 - Dance
To celebrate the New Year, here are some dances from Latin America, Canada, France, and Transcaucasia. - Cuban-American singer Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) brings us Babalu, a lively, rhythmic song written...
View ArticleNew Year 2018 - Waltz
To finish off 2017 let's greet the new year with some waltzes, all arranged or composed by musicians born 100 years ago. - Canadian trumpeter, conductor, composer and arranger of light music Robert...
View ArticleEstienne Grossin - 600 Years
No better way to start the New Year and our 2018 anniversaries than with a Medieval love song from France.Estienne Grossin (Grosin, Grossim de Parisiis) (fl. 1418 - 1421) was a late Medieval, early...
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