How Schubert’s Gretchen Changed Music

October 23, 2018.Reading time 5 minutes.

In October 1814, 17-year-old Franz Schubert (1797-1828) wrote a lied (an art song with text from a German poem). It might not seem remarkable at first glance, but this composition – called Gretchen am spinnrade – helped change the course of music. History One of the first pieces of Romantic-era program music (a piece of music that tells a story […]

Reverie: Classical Music Inspired by Dreams

September 18, 2018.Reading time 8 minutes.

You know the feeling of being swept away by your own imagination? Of losing track of all things reality for a magical place of memories and thoughts and what-ifs? Well, many composers throughout music history have tried to capture this feeling of reverie in their music. From Madness to Daydreams But first, a little background […]