Oct 19, 2020Franz Schubert’s “Gretchen am Spinnrade”On October 19, 1814–206 years ago today — Franz Schubert composed his first masterwork, the song Gretchen am Spinnrade — “Gretchen at the Spinning Wheel” — for solo voice and piano, on a text by Johann von Goethe. Schubert was 17 years old. It is an enduring and, in the…Music History Monday3 min readMusic History Monday3 min read
Sep 7, 2020Music History Monday: François-André Danican PhilidorWe mark the birth on September 7, 1726–294 years ago today — of the composer and chess master (properly, the “unofficial” world chess champion!) François-André Danican Philidor. In my Dr. Bob Prescribes post for Tuesday, September 1 (all of last week), we observed that the composer and conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli…Music History Monday2 min readMusic History Monday2 min read
Aug 31, 2020Music History Monday: I Want, I Need, I Must Have: Rock Stars and Their RidersAccording to “This Day in Music.com”, on August 31, 2006–14 years ago today — the Times of London ran an article on the sometimes outright whacko-crazy demands made by rock stars when on tour. …Music10 min readMusic10 min read
Aug 24, 2020Music History Monday: Bohemian RhapsodyIt was on August 24, 1975–45 years ago today — that Queen began recording Bohemian Rhapsody at Rockfield Studio №1 in Monmouth, Wales. It would take a total of three weeks to record the song. We are told that Freddie Mercury had “mentally prepared the song beforehand” and thus he…Queen9 min readQueen9 min read
Aug 18, 2020Dr. Bob Prescribes Siegfried IdyllYesterday’s Music History Monday marked the 144th anniversary of the premiere of Richard Wagner’s music drama Götterdämmerung (“The Twilight of the Gods), the fourth and final installment of his epic tetralogy The Ring of the Nibelungs. …Richard Wagner6 min readRichard Wagner6 min read
Aug 17, 2020Music History Monday: The Miracle at Bayreuth!On August 17, 1876–144 years ago today — Richard Wagner’s music drama Götterdämmerung (“Twilight of the Gods”) received its premiere in his newly-opened “Festival Theater” in Bayreuth, Germany. That performance of Götterdämmerung brought to its conclusion the first production of Wagner’s epic four evening tetralogy, The Ring of the Niebelung. …Wagner10 min readWagner10 min read
Aug 12, 2020Dr. Bob Prescribes: Mozart, Symphony in C major, “Jupiter”, K. 551Nicknames. We turn to that paragon of informational accuracy, Wikipedia, for the following definition of the word “nickname”: “A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, it is a form of endearment and amusement. In rarer cases…Dr Bob Prescribes4 min readDr Bob Prescribes4 min read
Aug 10, 2020Music History Monday: Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony and the Summer of 1788We mark the completion, on August 10, 1788–232 years ago today — of Mozart’s Symphony in C major, catalogued by Ludwig Köchel as K. 551 and nicknamed the “Jupiter”. It was Mozart’s final symphony, a towering, innovative masterwork, the greatest symphony ever composed to its time and by any standard…Music History6 min readMusic History6 min read
Aug 4, 2020Dr. Bob Prescribes Louise FarrencSoon after I opened up shop on Patreon, I was asked to comment on the music of Louise Farrenc (1804–1875). Not for the first time and certainly not for the last, I was brought up short . . . Louise who? …Louise Farrenc4 min readLouise Farrenc4 min read
Jul 28, 2020Dr. Bob Prescribes Ferruccio Busoni: Fantasia ContrappuntisticaYesterday’s Music History Monday post marked the death on July 27, 1924 of the musical polymath Ferruccio Busoni (1866–1924). Today’s Dr. …Ferruccio Busoni3 min readFerruccio Busoni3 min read
