Classical Music: where to start ? Part 8 … let’s get heavy!

25th May 2026

Famous for inspiring Heavy Metal pioneers Black Sabbath, Gustav Holst (UK 1874 – 1934) is most famous for his Planet Suite, composed during the First World War. Mars, the Roman God of War, is the opening movement.

Another composer known to the general public for a single work is Carl Orff (Germany 1895 – 1982) and again I have chosen the opening movement. Carmina Burana is based on medieval poetry, and O Fortuna is about the vagaries of fate.

Giuseppe Verdi (Italy 1813 – 1901) is best known for his operas, but I’ve chosen the Dies Irae from his 1874 Requiem as an example of heavy classical music.

To end our ‘annoy the neighbours’ fest, a piece not just heavy in volume but heavy in theme. Hector Berlioz (France 1803 – 1869) wrote programme notes to explain his 1830 Symphonie fantastique, based on his experiences of falling love with an Irish actress. The fifth movement describes a drug-induced hallucination, where the composer is surrounded by witches, ghosts and monsters, and there is a grotesque version of the Dies Irae, found in the Catholic requiem mass.

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Classical Music: where to start ? Part 3

22nd March 2026

Starting with a titan of Classical Music – Johann Sebastian Bach (Germany 1685 – 1750).

From such a wide and canonical repertoire, I’ve selected something a little different; a sonata extract but played on a traditional Swedish instrument, the nyckelharpa. Andante indicates a moderate tempo, a walking pace.

The next selection is the Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana, a one-act opera, a contrast to Wagner’s gargantuan musical dramas. Pietro Mascagni (Italy 1863 – 1945) composed this major work in 1890.

Zbigniew Preisner (Poland born 1955) is closely associated with Polish film director Krysztof Kieślowski for whom he composed several soundtracks (notably the ‘Three Colours’ trilogy).

Requiem for my Friend from 1998 is a tribute to the director.

The first time I heard our final selection, I thought it was from a film soundtrack, possibly a Michael Nyman piece. I was therefore very surprised to discover that it was 200 years old.

The Piano Trio No. 2 was one of Franz Schubert’s (Germany 1797 – 1828) last compositions. I’ve selected the second movement, another Andante, inspired by a traditional Swedish folk song.

Young Person’s Guide to Music: A Summer School project

5th July 2023

Chloe Chau from Singapore

Miumiu from China

… and from Cambridge in the UK.

We do not have any instruments in our class (yet … later we shall make a xylophone !), but we all have voices and can sing !

Let’s start with a round. This is when some of the class sing a song, then the other students sing the same song BUT one verse later.

Listen to this children’s song called ‘London Burning.’ Listen and then we shall try to sing. Many points to the best singers.

Teacher’s Note: split the class into small groups depending on class size and motivation. Award points for the best performances.

First question – do you know any famous composers ?

M _ _ _ _ _

B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

C _ _ _ _ _

B _ _ _

P _ _ _ _ _ _ _

QUESTION RUNAROUND

Teacher’s Note: Keep class in small groups. Select one student per group to run up to the board and place – not slap – their hand on number 1,2 or 3. Blank the screen so the students can’t see the answers !