Beethoven Symphony No. 3, "Eroica"

Thence the universe resounds With a joyful cry I AM. These are the final lines of Alexander Scriabin's epic Poem of Ecstasy, a 300-line poem that takes nearly 10 minutes to read aloud and is one of the most surreal texts in the world. Scriabin wrote a Poem of Ecstasy in text and ...  Show more

Ancient, mysterious, brooding savage dreams; Within them dwells the Forest's mighty God, And wood-sprites in the gloom weave magic secrets. These lines are affixed to the first page of Sibelius' tone poem Tapiola, a piece that is mysterious in many ways and stands as Sibelius' la ...  Show more

With the "Eroica," Ludwig van Beethoven expanded the idea of what a symphony could be. The man who helped inspire the symphony? Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Ludwig van Beethoven's Second Symphony came at a pivot point in his life. Musically, the composer moved toward the more epic, revolutionary style that would define his later symphonies. Personally, Beethoven sank into despair as his hearing loss worsened. 

Its power and sheer ambition influenced and intimidated scores of composers who followed Beethoven. 

The Ecossaise is a Scottish dance, usually in 2/4 time. It is known for the energetic rhythm and wide-ranging dynamics. This particular Ecossaise was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1823. This happens to be my first recording on my newly-acquired grand piano! I can't believe ...  Show more