Week of November 6, 2023 - Wind Quintets This week Bill explores some of the glorious music written for the popular chamber music combination of flute, clarinet, oboe, horn, and bassoon. Bill will focus on each instrument alone so we can identify the sound and character that makes it unique. We will hear famous orchestral woodwind solos, duets, and wind quintets by Franz Danzi, Carl Nielsen, and Darius Milhaud.
Week of November 13, 2023 - Under the Hood I How does this thing work? For some of us, the inner workings of a symphony are as inscrutable as the engine of an automobile is to others. Bill McGlaughlin lifts the "hood" on a handful of symphonies to explore the mechanics of large-scale compositions. Join us as we take a closer look at works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius.
Week of November 20, 2023 - Incidentally Speaking For as long as art forms such as theatre and ballet have graced the stage, composers have been there to enhance dramatic action through music. This week Bill explores some of the not-so-incidental music that has resulted and explains how music propels the drama and sustains poignant moments. We’ll hear the opening scene of the play Moderen (The Mother) by Helge Rode, and Nielsen’s two-minute “The Fog is Lifting”, which drives the tableau of a mother leaving her son. Compelling works by Fauré, Mendelssohn, Debussy, and others will also be featured.
Week of November 27, 2023 - Hector Berlioz As one of the developers of the symphonic form, Hector Berlioz lived a life full of drama and color. Born in France to parents with plans for him to become a doctor, he pursued everything but medicine. He wrote: “Beethoven opened before me a new world of music, as Shakespeare had revealed a new universe of poetry.” Join Bill on this journey through musical selections from Romeo and Juliet, Les Troyens, and his colorful Symphonie Fantastique.
