Author: Cynthia Young

Have you ever flipped a coin to make a decision or rolled the dice to pursue a path in Dungeons and Dragons? If so, then you know what aleatory is : random chance. This element…

The classical guitarist is always seated, with the left foot slightly elevated by a footrest so the leg can provide support for the instrument. The left hand fingers stop the strings on the neck to…

Today’s classical guitar is descended from the Baroque guitar. This was a small acoustic guitar with 5 pairs of gut strings called “courses”, somewhat similar to today’s 12 string acoustic guitar. It was a softer…

Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. He also created his own mystic religion believing that when all the arts and senses were united as one, the world would end in a total…

The year 1934 began auspiciously for Dmitri Shostakovich. He was an established composer and respected conservatory teacher. His opera, Lady MacBeth of Mtensk was in rehearsal for its highly anticipated premiere performance. He embarked on…

Beethoven never married, but was often romantically attracted to unattainable (and often married) women well above his social class. After his death, a long letter was found amongst his personal effects in his handwriting addressed…

On a September evening in 1960, Dmitri Shostakovich and Benjamin Britten were seated together at the Royal Festival Theatre where both composers were having their works performed. It was the British premiere of Shostakovich’s Sonata…