Conductor’s Tools 1: the Baton
For many concert-goers it is a mystery: What does the conductor need a baton for? Indeed, the baton is an extremely useful tool for us conductors. In the following I will explain why.
Corona in Concert – Three Approaches
Munich, Bielefeld, Weimar – three cities, three different approaches to dealing with corona requirements. At least one of them is really curious.
Upgrade Your Melody Vol. II – Time Signature
Maybe you know this: When you wake up, a sequence of tones buzzes around in your head. What do you do with it now? One possibility: create different pieces of music with one and the same tone sequence – by using different time signatures.
Where circus, politics and music meet: the Bucharest Athenaeum
Bucharest, 1865: A building for the benefit of society is to be constructed. What should it be? A circus, a parliament building or a concert hall? The Bucharest Athenaeum was all of that.
Mozart’s Prague Triumph – Symphony KV 504
On January 19, 1787 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart experienced perhaps the most triumphant evening of his life. What had happened?
Estates Theater Prague: Enlightenment and National Pride
A theater in which two Mozart operas were premiered? A theater that opened with a Lessing play? A theater in which a national anthem was born? In fact, there is one in which all this happened: the Prague Estates Theater.
Song Accompaniment: Become the Star of the Family Celebration
Family celebrations are an exciting thing. If there are small children in your family, you know that singing the theme tunes of current children’s series is always highly appreciated. Wouldn’t it be practical if you could spontaneously sit down at the piano to accompany a song? Together with Adrian, the Music Theory MentOWL, I’ll show you how to do it.
Upgrade Your Melody – Syncopation
Imagine you’re Beethoven. You must captivate your audience with your melodies. How do you do that? Fortunately, you have a toolbox full of compositional tricks at your disposal. One of them is syncopation.
