Max Steiner was born in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt in the Hotel Nordbahn and came from a wealthy theatre dynasty that was friends with many composers. Sein Großvater Maximilian Steiner war unter anderem Direktor am Theater an der Wien, und sein Vater Gabor Steiner arbeitete in Wien ebenfalls als Theaterdirektor. Mit einem…
Gone with the Wind – Max Steiner on the 50th Anniversary of his Death Weiterlesen »
Many smaller and bigger names are celebrating an anniversary in 2022. In any case, there are so many that one could fill several concert programmes. Perhaps one or the other name can be found on their programme? A little rummaging and research is always worthwhile. 450th birthday: Moritz of Hesse,
The Regents of the Year 2022 Weiterlesen »
For countless people, spring is the most beautiful of all seasons. The well-known German poet Johann Gottfried Herder (1744 – 1803) sums it up when he says: “What spring did not sow, summer cannot ripen, autumn cannot reap and winter cannot enjoy”. Many composers have taken up this season and
Next spring is sure to come Weiterlesen »
Blechpresse in German means ‘sheet metal press’ in English. When you think of a sheet metal press, you think of a tinsmith. Someone who angles sheet metal, brings it into shape. Perhaps a sheet metal press also produces a mould for a brass instrument? None of that is true. The
Sheet music from the tin press? Weiterlesen »
The song “Music” was not necessarily universally recognised after its release; too epic, too much drama. Nevertheless, the song wrote music history. The song has strong contrasts, changes of rhythms and actually only few lyrics: “Music was my first love – and it will be my last”. The song speaks
Music was his first love: John Miles has died. Weiterlesen »
When one thinks of Stephen Sondheim, one hardly associates him with Bernstein’s “West Side Story”. Sondheim was brilliant as a composer as well as a lyricist, and so he provided the texts for this opera. He called Johann Sebastian Bach his model as a composer. He once claimed to have
Send in the Clowns – a song has faded away Weiterlesen »
Derjenige, der beim Kartenspiel verliert, hat das “Bummerl”. Wer im Leben verliert, hat das auch, sagt man in Österreich. Jetzt hat das “Bummerl” auch seinen Macher erreicht: am 22. November 2021 verstarb der Liedermacher und Musiker Horst Chmelar. Horst Chmelar was a dazzling figure in the Viennese music scene. He
Ana hot always the Bummerl – a song has faded away Weiterlesen »
Big band sound in the modern concert band is very popular. Many publishers offer editions and compositions for this genre. In order for the sound of the wind orchestra not to become too ponderous, a lot of experience is needed in the realisation of the sound. It should sound jazzy,
The Big Band and your Concert Band Weiterlesen »
The well-known Spanish composer and arranger Juan Vicente Mas Quiles has always been closely associated with the renowned wind orchestra Banda Primitiva (El Clarin) from his birthplace Lliria near Valencia. Born on 25 January 1921, he played the flute in the orchestra as a boy and was later a member
Spanish composer Juan Vicente Mas Quiles dies at the age of 100. Weiterlesen »
These days, exactly on 21 October, the 90th anniversary of the death of the doctor, storyteller and playwright Arthur Schnitzler was commemorated. Like Thomas Bernhard in the 20th century, Arthur Schnitzler at the turn of the century 18/19 was considered a provocateur per exzellente for the “upper society” and militaria
Arthur Schnitzler: Provocateur per excellence Weiterlesen »
