New stories on MusicTales

1. 

   Collaboration

   Nordic folk fiddle reshapes polished classical sound in the music of Gjermund Larsen

   Gjermund Larsen is a Norwegian musician and composer who dedicated his career to the music of his native land. His work…

   December 18, 2018

2. 

   Songwriter

   Big Bill Broonzy's guitar made ripples on both sides of the Atlantic

   Big Bill Broonzy was one of the most important Chicago blues singers whose songs would inspire, among many others,…

   December 14, 20181 comment

3. 

   Piano

   The American boom of Cécile Chaminade's Romantic piano

   French Romantic composer Cécile Louise Stéphanie Chaminade enjoyed considerable success, touring as a pianist and…

   December 11, 2018

4. 

   Organ

   Mecca for organ music created by Dieterich Buxtehude in Lübeck

   The picture Musical Company by Johannes Voorhout shows baroque composer Dietrich Buxtehude playing the viol while his…

   December 7, 2018

5. 

   Songwriter

   The smoky alto of Chabuca Granda elevated the Creole waltz to the international level

   Chabuca Granda is the single most important figure in the history of Peruvian music. Though identified with the city of…

   December 3, 2018

6. 

   Songwriter

   Just Another Diamond Day: the stunning rediscovery of the hippie-era gem

   Vashti Bunyan is an English singer and songwriter primarily known for her 1970 album Just Another Diamond Day, which…

   November 30, 2018

7. 

   Recorder

   Fiery dances of Marco Uccellini from Forlimpopoli

   Forlimpopoli is a tiny Italian town located on the Romagna plain, at the foot of the Apennines. Founded by Romans in…

   November 27, 2018

8. 

   Violin

   The fifth string of the Maihar school lead violin

   For more than a century, the tiny town of Maihar—now the de facto cradle of the Indian Classical—has been breathing…

   November 23, 20181 comment

9. 

   Piano

   Sgt. Pepper's inspiration behind Carla Bley's revolutionary jazz album

   Born in Oakland, California, Carla Bley was raised in a Christian fundamentalist household and received remarkably…

   November 20, 2018

10. 

    Cor Anglais

    The alloy of melody and spoken word in the music of Reynaldo Hahn

    Reynaldo Hahn was a Venezuelan-born—later naturalized French—composer, pianist, and singer who wrote in the French…

    November 16, 2018

11. 

    Cello

    Recent study of Luigi Boccherini's skeleton revealed the threat of scoliosis for cellists

    Luigi Boccherini was born in the Italian town of Lucca in Tuscany in 1743. He was the third child of a double-bass…

    November 13, 2018

12. 

    Orchestra

    Ludwig August Lebrun: the sweet genius of Mannheim

    Ludwig August Lebrun (1752—1790) was a phenomenal German oboist who contributed several mellow oboe pieces to the…

    November 10, 2018

13. 

    Classical Guitar

    Enrique Granados' dramatic voyage was cut short by a German U-boat

    Pantaléon Enrique Costanzo Granados y Campiña was one of the greatest pianists and composers of the Romantic period who…

    November 6, 2018

14. 

    Piano

    The Orpheus of Amsterdam: the joyful nickname for organist Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

    The ‘Orpheus of Amsterdam’ was the nickname lovingly given to Jan Pietersz Sweelinck (1562–1621), an organist, composer…

    November 2, 2018

15. 

    Electric Guitar

    Monnette Sudler: the first lady of jazz guitar

    Grammy-nominated jazz guitarist Monnette Sudler is known as the “First Lady of Jazz Guitar,” among other titles. Her…

    October 30, 2018

16. 

    Songwriter

    Sūrsāgar: ocean of poetry that expanded for five centuries

    Sūrdās was a North Indian devotional poet, musician, and saint who lived in the 16th century. His lyrics, addressed…

    October 27, 2018

17. 

    Orchestra

    The four elements of nature expressed in musical form by Jean-Féry Rebel

    French composer Jean-Féry Rebel was born in 1666 to a distinguished musical family. His father and uncle were French…

    October 24, 2018

18. 

    Classical Guitar

    Anthony Holborne: the master of Elizabethan consort music

    Antony Holborne was an English Renaissance composer whose music for lute and cittern appeared in two important…

    October 22, 2018

19. 

    Songwriter

    The three acts of Lonnie Johnson' blues

    Lonnie Johnson (1889—1970) was a prolific American musician, singer, and songwriter, and one of the first major blues…

    October 18, 2018

20. 

    Piano

    Gondolier songs as the inspiration behind the romantic genre of Barcarolle

    Originally a Venetian gondolier’s song, Barcarolle is characterized by gently rocking rhythms reminiscent of the…

    October 14, 2018