We continue with the Baroque period and listen another concerto grosso this week.

Compare the instrumentation of last week's Concerto Grosso by Corelli to that of Antonio Vivaldi's.

More composers that have composed Concerto Grossi in the Baroque period.

Happy Listening!

Let's listen to Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni, the Italian composer, this week.

I love the liveliness of this work especially its third movement. It is inspiring and joyful.

Listen carefully and see if you can discern the difference between the concerto grossi we listened to the previous weeks and this particular work.

This week, we will listen to a Suite played on a harpsichord. Suites were instrumental works composed during the Baroque period. They were a group of dances in the same key.

The suites had the following movements. The Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue.

Find Out what other composers composed Suites in the Baroque period.

This month, we will examine different String Quartets. String quartet pieces are composed for four string instruments, violin I, violin II, viola, and cello, playing their individual parts. 

This week's listening recommendation is a string quartet by Claude Debussy. It is one of my favorite string quartets I have enjoyed playing.

This String Quartet holds a special place in my heart.

What characteristics of this instrumentation do you enjoy listening to?

This week, the recommendation is for an extraordinary composer, another of my favorites. 

Try to find out the number of String Quartet Shostakovich has composed during his lifetime.

Try listening to one of the movements performed by different string quartet groups and see how their interpretations differ. 

This week, I would like to revisit the Baroque period and explore a particular composer's works. I listened to some of his compositions today and loved the energy and liveliness of his pieces. 

Rameau lived from 1683-1764.

What pieces did you discover as you looked for Rameau's compositions?

He was one of the famous Russian Five committed to creating a school of Russian Music.

Borodin is one of my favorite composers who was a chemistry teacher.

How does the melody transfer from one instrument to the next?

I am back from a short break and ready to offer you new pieces for listening.

This week, explore the innovator of French Ouvertures—the music of Jean Baptiste Lully.

How does the French Ouverture differ from the Italian Overture?

After being away this month, I am back with more listening suggestions and activities. This month, I would like to remember a favorite composer of mine and recommend his works: the Italian composer Luigi Boccherini.

Luigi Boccherini was a cellist.

What types of compositions did Luigi Boccherini compose?

I am currently learning this particular piece on the viola da gamba. I want to recommend it for this week.

G.P. Telemann was a German composer and organist.

Who was G.P. Telemann's godson?

This week's recommendation is one of my favorite composers and his piano concerto. I have been listening to it lately, and it is a nice way to bring this year to a close.

Tchaikovsky also composed symphonies, which are well-received to this day.

What famous work has Tchaikovsky composed that is performed during the Christmas season?

This symphony by Joseph Haydn is one of my favorites.

Le Matin means the morning in French, and I have always thought that J. Haydn describes the sunrise right from the beginning.

Listen to other symphonies by Haydn.

The Dvorak Cello Concerto is another favorite piece of mine, and I recommend it for this week.

Read my post from January 16, 2025.

Do We Always Have to Memorize Our Music as Classical Musicians.

After reading my post, listen to a famous artist playing this concerto and observe how they play by memory.