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Vivaldi Winter – Classical Music With Big Mike
Antonio Vivaldi was an Italian Baroque composer famous for his many violin concertos. Along with Johann Sebastian Bach, George Fredrick Handel, and G Philipp Telemann, Vivaldi was one of the greatest composers in the Baroque era of music. "The Four Seasons" was his best known and best recognized set of four short violin concertos. Each…
Happy Birthday Beethoven! – Classical Music With Big Mike
On Dec. 16*, 1770, one of the giants in classical music, the great composer and pianist, Ludwig Van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany. Historians are in some dispute on the exact date of his birth. *His birthday is celebrated on the 16th because he was baptized on Dec. 17, and most think that means…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Simply Genius – Classical Music With Big Mike
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is the quintessential classical era composer. He is one of my favorite composers. Mozart, in my opinion, could make more with an uncomplicated theme or idea than any other composer. The musical idea may at first sound simple without much substance but the genius Mozart could turn that simple theme into a…
Beethoven Makes This Second His First – Classical Music With Big Mike
The great late Classical/early Romantic era composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven, composed 5 great piano concertos. I think there is a consensus that his 5th piano concerto "The Emperor", is his best, and one of the greatest piano concertos ever written. While it is hard to choose because they are all so good and I love…
Teenage Brilliance – Classical Music With Big Mike
Can you remember when you were a teenager? I think I would be safe to say not many of you were composing chamber music at that age. Well, the 16 year old Felix Mendelssohn was not only composing music at that age but he composed one of the greatest and most beloved chamber music pieces ever…
Brahms Fear of Composing First Symphony Led to This Masterpiece – Classical Music With Big Mike
Tonight, November 23, 2024, my wife, Sheralyn and I are going to hear our great Houston Symphony Orchestra at Jones Hall in downtown Houston. One of the pieces we will be hearing is Brahms Serenade #1 in D major. Because of that I am repeating this post about that piece I had published a couple…
Happy Birthday to Two Great Americans – Classical Music With Big Mike
On this Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, I say: Happy Birthday, Sheralyn! Sheralyn, the fetching Mrs. B., is my love, my life, my wife. God has blessed me with such a wonderful wife, without who I would be lost in this world. On November 11, 1982 Sheralyn and I were blessed with our wonderful daughter, Ebony…
Vivaldi‘s Autumn – Classical Music With Big Mike
On this Sunday, September 22 begins the season of fall/the autumn equinox. And what a better way to start the season then, with the Italian Baroque composer, Antonio Vivaldi’s, autumn violin Concerto, from his iconic, four seasons-the four seasons are a set of four short violin Concertos, each representing one of the four seasons. March…
Chanticleer’s Loch Lomond – Classical Music With Big Mike
In the early morning on Thursday, August 8, I heard on classical San Diego one of the most beautiful a cappella songs I have ever heard that I wanted to share with you. It was sung by the male classical vocal ensemble -Chanticleer- the iconic traditional song of Scotland, Loch Lomond. Please turn up the…
Smetana’s Ma…….Sonata? – Classical Music With Big Mike
If I asked you, what is the first thing you think about when I mention the great patriotic "father" of Czech music, Bedrich Smetana? I think most of you, like me, would immediately say, Ah... Ma Vlast! - the great patriotic overture written in honor of his homeland. While this is so beautiful, I was…
Schubert’s Final Piece For Solo Piano – Classical Music With Big Mike
There are three classical music stations on my I phone I listen to at different times, Houston's, Houston Public Media Classical, Seattle's, King FM, and Portland's, All Classical Portland. About a week ago [May 2023], and excuse me for forgetting which one, but on one of these stations I heard this beautiful piano sonata that…
Happy Birthday Gustav Mahler – Classical Music With Big Mike
Happy Birthday Gustav Mahler Gustav Mahler, one of the giants as a conductor and composer, in the Romantic Era, was born to a Jewish family on July 7, 1860, in Kaliste, Bohemia [now part of the Czech Republic]. He died on May 18, 1911 in Vienna, Austria. From Biography.com-Gustav Mahler: "Austrian composer and conductor Gustav…
This Russian Composer’s Music Has Become a Staple In Two American Holidays – Classical Music With Big Mike
As we celebrate Independence Day in America, I repeat this post first published a few years ago. Sometimes I will ask classical music lovers who is their favorite composer and almost always the names of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach will come up. In fact, that is the names I would mention when asked who is…
Happy Independence Day-Happy Birthday Mom – Classical Music With Big Mike
Happy Independence Day! Happy 102 to My Heavenly Mom! I love the 4th of July. America's Independence Day. The birthday of the most exceptional country in the history of the world, my country, the United States of America! The 4th has also been the birthday of the greatest Mom in the world, my Mom, 'Reenie'!…
More Than A Concert – An Epic Event – Classical Music With Big Mike
I love to go with Mrs. B to Jones Hall to hear our world class Houston Symphony Orchestra in a classical concert. We have heard so much beautiful and great music from the classical music masters. We have never been disappointed.While there have been great concerts we have gone to, there are certain concerts containing…
The Enigma Variations – Classical Music With Big Mike
One of my favorite classical music pieces of all, is the "enigma variations on an original theme" by England's great composer during the Romantic Era, Sir Edward Elgar. It contains one of the most beautiful movements in the classical music genre, the "Nimrod" variation. Edward Elgar [June 2, 1857 - January 23, 1934] From the…
It’s Summer and The Music is Hot – Classical Music With Big Mike
This Thursday, June 20, 2024 is the first day of Summer, and the longest day of the year. It's summertime, baby and on this classical music blog, the music is hot! And what can be hotter than Antonio Vivaldi's "Summer" concerto from his "Four Seasons". Antonio Vivaldi was a great Italian Baroque composer and a…
Happy Juneteenth Freedom Day – Classical Music With Big Mike
Wishing a Happy and a Blessed Juneteenth especially to all black Americans on this Wednesday, June 19, 2024! Also, I hope that all Americans will honor and celebrate this day June 19, when 159 years ago, freedom from slavery was finally proclaimed to all the slaves. The 156th Anniversary of Juneteenth. From this Juneteenth web site: "Juneteenth…
Happy Birthday Robert Schumann – Classical Music With Big Mike
On June 8, 1810 the German Romantic Era composer, pianist, and music critic Robert Schumann was born in Zwickau, [Central] Germany. Happy 214th Birthday Robert Schumann! From Wikipedia-Robert Schumann: "He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as…
Happy Birthday Sir Edward Elgar – Classical Music With Big Mike
Happy Birthday Sir, Edward Elgar That Is On June 2, 1857 was born the great English [Broadheath, United Kingdom] composer Edward Elgar. In 1904, King Edward VII would knight, Edward Elgar, for recognition of his great works, and from that day on he would become known as Sir Edward Elgar. Sir Edward Elgar [June 2,…
Honoring The Fallen on This Memorial Day – Classical Music With Big Mike
On this Monday, May 27, 2024 is Memorial Day. May God Bless all of the fallen heroes [and their families] of America's armed forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice for us and for our country. Without the sacrifice made by so many, we would not have the free country we have today. Their sacrifice…
A Classical Music Mothers Day Weekend – Classical Music With Big Mike
As we enter the Mother’s Day weekend, I would like to wish a very Happy and Blessed Mother's Day to all, especially to all the wonderful Moms out there. On a personal note, me and my sister Susan and my brothers Sandy and Brad, as always, remember the blessing of our Mom, Reenie, who is…
Happy Birthday Brahms and Tchaikovsky – Classical Music With Big Mike
May 7th is the birth date for two of the giants in the Romantic Era of music, Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Brahms was born in the year of 1833 and seven years later in the year, 1840 was born Tchaikovsky. Both of these composers were known for their big orchestral sound filled with…
Puccini Sans Opera – Classical Music With Big Mike
Giacomo Puccini was one of the greatest Italian composers in the Romantic Era who is widely known for his magnificent luscious operas and the beautiful melodic arias they have produced. With a hat/tip to All Classical Portland, a Tune in Radio station I was listening to on my morning walk this Sunday March 25, 2023,…
Dvorak’s Largo For Cello and Piano – Classical Music With Big Mike
During my morning walk on Saturday [from June of 2017], I heard this beautiful version of the "going home" theme from the Largo movement of the Czech Romantic composer, Antonin Dvorak's wonderful "New World" Symphony, played on "All Classical Portland". The version I heard was for cello and piano. This is one of my favorite movements…
The Three Great Eras Of Classical Music – Classical Music With Big Mike
When one talks about classical music [the generic term] they are usually talking about the three great eras of music: Baroque, Classical, and Romantic. So, classical music is differentiated from the Classical era, as classical music is comprised of music from all those three eras and not just the Classical era. 1. Baroque Era: This…
Dvorak’s Use of Dynamics Enhances His New World Symphony – Classical Music With Big Mike
In classical music, dynamics means the volume [soft/loud] used in a piece of music. The two basic dynamic markings are soft, marked p [meaning piano], and loud marked f [meaning forte].Pianissimo, pp means play very softly. Fortissimo, ff means very loud. To have a phrase played the softest as possibly can be played is marked ppp [piano…
Happy Birthday Sergei Prokofiev – Classical Music With Big Mike
Happy Birthday Sergei Prokofiev On April 23, 1891, the Russian pianist, composer and conductor, Sergei Prokofiev, was born in Ukraine [at that time Russian Empire] and he died on March 5, 1953 in Moscow, Russia [Soviet Union]. From Wikipedia: Sergei Prokofiev: "A graduate of the Saint Petersburgh, Conservatory, Prokofiev initially made his name as an…
The Papa’s Piano – Classical Music With Big Mike
Franz Joseph Haydn, the great Austrian Classical Era composer, is known as Papa Haydn because he is considered the father of the classical symphony. Haydn composed 104 classical symphonies. A characteristic of a Haydn symphony is its bright, happy, playful nature. Audiences of the time loved their Papa Haydn because of the good feeling when listening to…
Chopin Magic – Classical Music With Big Mike
Chopin Magic 'Could it Be Magic', was the name of the pop song written by composer and singer Barry Manilow. It was magic, as it's opening was taken directly from one of my favorite Romantic Era composers, especially for piano music, Frederic Chopin. Barry Manilow Frederic Chopin, the Polish composer and virtuoso pianist, was the quintessential…
Happy Birthday Franz Joseph Haydn – Classical Music With Big Mike
Franz Joseph Haydn: "(born March 31, 1732, Rohrau, Austria—died May 31, 1809, Vienna), [was an] Austrian composer who was one of the most important figures in the development of the Classical style in music during the 18th century." On this coming Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024 we say Happy 292nd heavenly Birthday to this giant…
Happy Birthday JS Bach – Classical Music With Big Mike
The quintessential Baroque composer, Johann Sebastian Bach, was born 339 years ago in Germany on either March 21, 1685 or March 31, 1685 - this time dispute relates to the change of calendars [Julian to Gregorian] during that time period. Because most musicologists celebrate Bach's birthday on March 31, this blog also will celebrate his…
Bravo Cadenza! – Classical Music With Big Mike
Cadenza comes from the Italian word meaning cadence. It is generally an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played by the soloist in a concerto, usually in a "free" style, allowing for a virtuosic display by the soloist.Cadenza refers to that portion of a concerto in which the orchestra [tutti] will stop playing, leaving the soloist…
Happy #180 Heavenly Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov – Classical Music With Big Mike
Thia Monday, March 18, 2024 would be the 180th birthday of the Russian Romantic composer, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This from Wikipedia: "Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov[a] (March 18, 1844 – June 21, 1908) was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of [19th Century Russian] composers known as The Five [Rimsky-Korsakov, Mily Balakirev, Cesar Cui, Modest…
Radetsky March on Johann Strauss I Birthday – Classical Music With Big Mike
Thursday, March 14, is the birthday of Johann Strauss I. This from Wikipedia: "Johann Baptist Strauss I ... also , Johann Strauss Sr., the Elder, the Father, (March 14 1804 – September 25 1849) was an Austrian composer of the Romantic Period. He was famous for his light music, namely waltzes, polkas and galops, which…
Oboe Relaxation – Classical Music With Big Mike
I have come across a piece that is so pleasant and relaxing, I wanted to share it with you. It is Richard Strauss' Oboe Concerto in D-Major. Richard Strauss was a German composer and conductor in the late Romantic/early Modern eras of music. This was one of the last works Strauss composed - in 1945. …
Happy Birthday Samuel Barber – Classical Music With Big Mike
From Britannica-Samuel Barber: "Samuel Barber, (born March 9, 1910, West Chester, PA, died January 23, 1981, New York, NY), American composer who is considered one of the most expressive representatives of the lyric and Romantic trends in 20th-century classical music. "His [Samuel Barber] style was distinctive and modern but not experimental. He established his reputation…
Happy Birthday C.P.E. Bach – Classical Music With Big Mike
Maybe J.S. Bach's most famous child composer was his son, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, born in Weimar, Germany on March 8, 1714. C.P.E. Bach [March 8, 1714 - Dec. 14, 1788] From Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach - Wikipedia: " ... was a German Classical Period musician and composer, the fifth child and second surviving son…
Sheralyn’s Two Favorite Classical Music Pieces on Our Anniversary – Classical Music With Big Mike
I hope you don't mind this personal post on my classical music web site. On this Friday, March 8, 2024, will be my wife, Sheralyn, and my, 42nd Wedding Anniversary. How blessed I have been and on the other hand I must ask, what was she thinking of? :-) March 8, 1982 A few years…
Happy Birthday Maurice Ravel – Classical Music With Big Mike
One of the most beloved French composers was Maurice Ravel, born Ciboure, France on March 7, 1875. So, Ravel was born 149 years to the day on this Thursday, March 7, 2024. From Ravel-Wikipedia: "Joseph Maurice Ravel was a French composer, pianist and conductor. He is often associated with impressionism along with his elder contemporary…