Aug 7, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Insights, Videos
Edward Johnson writes… The deaths of two musicians occurred last week, so a couple of brief In memoriam uploads have duly appeared on YouTube. Carl Davis died aged 86 on August 3 and – to quote Wiki – “he wrote the music for more than 100 TV programmes, created...
Jun 29, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Insights, Videos
Edward Johnson writes… Today it’s the birthday of Bernard Herrmann – born June 29, 1911 in New York City (died December 24, 1975) – who is now generally recognised as one of Hollywood’s very finest movie composers. He scored the music for about fifty films,...
May 9, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Insights, Videos
Edward Johnson writes… Doubtless due to its inclusion in Walt Disney’s Fantasia, Stokowski’s arrangement of the Toccata and Fugue has become one of the most performed orchestrations of any of Bach’s organ works. In addition to his own several recordings, it has...
Apr 29, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Insights, Videos
Edward Johnson writes… Two more April maestros to follow in Stokowski’s footsteps! http://www.colinscolumn.com/stokowski-at-141-on-april-18/. Both were born on 29 April – in 1879 in Sir Thomas Beecham’s case and 1895 in Sir Malcolm Sargent’s, their birthdays...
Apr 24, 2023 | Insights, News
Ladies and gentlemen, I have a lot to say about what is happening in classical music in this country – as does anyone in our profession right now. But please don’t look so alarmed! I’m not going to bludgeon you with it. I hope that our most eloquent...
Apr 18, 2023 | Guest Contributors, Insights, Videos
Edward Johnson writes… Stokowski is 141 today. He was born in London on April 18, 1882 and started his musical life as a church organist. However, he soon moved to the orchestral podium where he was to become one of the twentieth-century’s greatest maestros....