Author Archives: Brian Linnell
Berlioz and Post-Christian Europe
In the 16th century, the Catholic Church largely collapsed with the Protestant Reformation. The schism and the century of war … Continue reading
Thomas Dartmouth Rice: The Original Jim Crow
In 1837, after 11 years spent pursuing his composing career in Europe, Anthony Philip Heinrich returned to the United States. … Continue reading
Ferenc Erkel’s Masterpiece: His Opera “Bánk Bán”
In the upcoming podcast, 1837: A Year in Classical Music, vol. 6, I’ll discuss a very good chamber piece written … Continue reading
1837, vol. 5: Henselt, Bull, Berlioz
Adolf von Henselt was known as the Chopin of Germany. He was skilled enough a pianist and composer to deserve … Continue reading
Berlioz’s Plot to Assassinate Pleyel
Early in 1831, just after Berlioz won the Prix de Rome and began his two years of study at the … Continue reading
“Jazz and Romanian Fiddling in Classical Music from 1926” — April 23rd, 2017
The decade that gave us flappers, women's suffrage, prohibition and the Great Depression, also delivered works by music greats Aaron … Continue reading
Matthew B. Tepper’s Berlioz Requiem Page
Hector Berlioz finished two of his most important compositions in 1837, one of them his immense and powerful Requiem. I … Continue reading
Copland, Ruth Crawford Seeger, and the Hoe-Down from Rodeo
Everyone knows the “Hoe-Down” tune from Aaron Copland’s Ballet Rodeo (even if they don’t know who Aaron Copland was or … Continue reading
1837, vol. 4: Meyerbeer, Hensel, Heinrich
By 1837, Giacomo Meyerbeer was the star composer of the Paris Opéra. He had premiered his opera Robert le diable … Continue reading
Princess Christina Belgiojoso
It was Princess Christina Belgiojoso who hosted the Liszt vs. Thalberg duel and commissioned the Hexaméron Variations in 1837, all … Continue reading
