The Amazing Mrs. Sirmen, aka Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen

by Liane Curtis | May 25, 2020

Taking up our #ThinkOutsideTheBachs challenge, London-based musician Martin Ash offers engaging insights on the groundbreaking and innovative violinist-composer (also singer and keyboard player) Maddalena Laura Lombardini Sirmen (1745-1818).  Martin Ash is a viola...

Quinn Mason on Vítězslava Kaprálová

by Liane Curtis | Mar 17, 2020

Once again, we are happy to welcome Quinn Mason (fresh from his Seattle conducting debut) as Guest Blogger!  He offers his insights on Vítězslava Kaprálová, in particular two of her orchestral works, Rustic Suite (1938) and Military Sinfonietta (1936-1937). Vítězslava...

What to Listen to During Social Distancing

by sarah | Mar 16, 2020

These are anxious times.  As we do our part to participate in the self-imposed social isolation that most of the world is finding themselves in these days, we have collected some resources that we may all turn to in the coming restless days.  Many arts organizations...

On the death of the Hungarian composer and pedagogue Erzsébet Szőnyi

by Liane Curtis | Mar 8, 2020

We received this moving obituary of Erzsébet Szőnyi, written by Matthias Funkhauser of the German Kodály Society. Erzsébet Szőnyi (25 April 1924 – 28 December 2019) (also Erzsébet Szilágyi) was a Hungarian composer and music teacher. Her works encompass symphonic...

Remembering a pioneering scholar of women in music, Dr. Karin Pendle

by Liane Curtis | Feb 21, 2020

In the past few years, so many have “discovered” the issue of women composers and gender in classical music.  That is — for the most part — great!  But sometimes it does seem like we keep on “re-inventing the wheel.” If  instead we...

Project W by the Chicago Sinfonietta — CD Review by Quinn Mason

by Liane Curtis | Nov 9, 2019

We’ve followed the important work of the Chicago Sinfonietta for many years (for instance, here is our 2013 interview with their music director, Mei Ann Chen) and are happy to present a review of their latest CD, reviewed by Quinn Mason.  Quinn’s previous...